Influence of Saturation Phenomena on Laser-Excited Atomic Fluorescence Flame Spectrometry

Abstract
Using a simple rate equation model, the laser power density Ic necessary to reach 50% of the saturation limited population of the excited atomic level under typical flame conditions is calculated. For Na atoms aspirated into the flame a saturating power density for irradiation with a narrow dye laser line (bandwidth 0.033 Å) of Ic ~ 0.4 kW/cm2 was determined. With the aid of a dye laser with an appropriate laser power density, analytical curves for Na were measured yielding a detection limit of 0.2 ng/ml. This sensitivity is comparable with the best results obtained by atomic emission flame spectrometry.

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