Laser-enhanced ionization of mercury atoms in an inert atmosphere with avalanche amplification of the signal

  1. Clevenger, W.L. 3
  2. Matveev, O.I. 1
  3. Cabredo, S. 2
  4. Omenetto, N. 4
  5. Smith, B.W. 3
  6. Winefordner, J.D. 3
  1. 1 Moscow State University
    info

    Moscow State University

    Moscú, Rusia

    ROR https://ror.org/010pmpe69

  2. 2 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

  3. 3 University of Florida
    info

    University of Florida

    Gainesville, Estados Unidos

    ROR https://ror.org/02y3ad647

  4. 4 Environment Institute, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, (Va), Italy
Mostrar afiliaciones +
Revista:
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Analytical Chemistry.

ISSN: 0003-2700

Año de publicación: 1997

Volumen: 69

Número: 13

Páginas: 2232-2237

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1021/AC9702148 SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-0006600044 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Otras publicaciones en: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Analytical Chemistry.

Repositorio institucional: lock_openAcceso abierto Editor

Resumen

A new method for laser-enhanced ionization detection of mercury atoms in an inert gas atmosphere is described. The method, which is based on the avalanche amplification of the signal resulting from the ionization from a selected Rydberg level reached by a three-step laser excitation of mercury vapor in a simple quartz cell, can be applied to the determination of this element in various matrices by the use of conventional cold atomization techniques. The overall (collisional + photo) ionization efficiency is investigated at different temperatures, and the avalanche amplification effect is reported for Ar and P-10 gases at atmospheric pressure. It is shown that the amplified signal is related to the number of charges produced in the laser-irradiated volume. Under amplifier noise-limited conditions, a detection limit of ∼15 Hg atoms/laser pulse in the interaction region is estimated.