A method of using photoacoustic spectroscopy to determine chemical information about an analyte includes the steps of emitting a light ray for interaction with a sample of an analyte; transmitting the light ray through a fill fluid disposed in a detection cell, the fill fluid having molecules substantially similar to molecules of the analyte to absorb the light ray; producing a thermal wave and oscillation in the fill fluid proportional to an intensity of the light ray; including a pressure oscillation in the fill fluid by the thermal wave; and detecting the pressure oscillation by a microphone to determine information about the analyte sample.