Reduction of magnet size in direct Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A field-on-source design is described which gives Zeeman background correction while allowing a significant reduction of magnet size to be achieved. The design is inherently suited to observation of the longitudinal Zeeman effect. The system was tested with copper, using polarization modulation to selectively detect the difference in absorption between the σ₊ and σ_– components of the longitudinal multiplet emitted by the source. Effective background correction is achieved, including tolerance towards anisotropy at the optical boundary of the atomizer. In contrast to the transverse field-on-source configuration the present system did not produce an interfering off-set signal as a result of self-absorption.