Improved laser technique for high sensitivity atomic absorption spectroscopy in flames

Edward A. Whittaker, Peter Pokrowsky, Werner Zapka, Kevin Roche, Gary C. Bjorklund

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Frequency modulation laser spectroscopy is utilized for high sensitivity detection of trace species aspirated into a flame of the type commonly used for atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The method is applied to the detection of sodium atoms in an air-acetylene flame and data are obtained on the distribution of ground and excited state populations as a function of height above the burner. Absorptions as small as 1.5 × 10-4 may be detected with a signal-to-noise of one. With multi-passing, a detection limit of 3.3 × 106 sodium atoms/cm3 was obtained.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)289-296
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1983

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