Abstract

In Laser-Enhanced Ionization spectrometry (LEI), the thermal ionization rate of an analyte atom in a flame or furnace is enhanced when the atom illuminated by light from a pulsed dye laser system, tuned to an absorption transition. The enhanced ionization rate which follows the excitation is detected non-optically by applying an electric field across the interaction region and measuring the current. Two-step LEI, where the atoms are simultaneously excited by the light from two dye lasers, gives an increase in both the sensitivity and selectivity of the method.

© 1987 Optical Society of America