Micro-biophysical characterization of respiration aerosols (μResp) and their role in airborne transmission of infectious diseases
(DFG, Projekt-Nr. 469107130)
μResp will significantly expand the current knowledge about the sites of origin and characteristics of human respiratory aerosols and droplets and their role in the airborne transmission of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and COVID-19. How emission characteristics and droplet consistency vary between individuals and the influence of age, gender and health status is largely unknown. Based on a unique experimental design and solid experience in the field, we will study aerosol emission (size, number, position, velocity and trajectory) from individuals using advanced high-speed imaging techniques, in-line holography and aerosol spectrometry.
High-speed tracking of particles generated during vocalizations. (right) a side view of the experimental setup in which the subject shout "Goal" into a laser beam while three high-speed cameras on the bottom (not shown here) record the illuminated particles to be tracked. (Left) a side view of the particles recorded by a fourth high-speed camera, showing an overlay of the particles exhaled during the shouting for a duration of 1 second.