Particulate matter sensors operate using various technologies, including optical, beta-attenuation, and gravimetric methods. Optical sensors, for example, use light scattering to detect particles in the air. When light passes through a sample of air, particles scatter the light, and the sensor measures the intensity of the scattered light to estimate particle concentration. Beta-attenuation monitors use a beta radiation source to measure particle mass, while gravimetric sensors collect particles on a filter and weigh them to determine concentration.
