Multi-element glow discharge atomic fluorescence using continuum sources

Abstract

The glow discharge (GD) has been shown to be a useful atom source for the direct sputtering of solid samples for atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Conventional, broadband light sources have advantageous features for an inexpensive, GD atomic fluorescence spectrometry technique with capability for multi-element analysis. In this work, the xenon arc lamp and xenon flashlamp are used as spectral continuum sources. With these lamps, improvements in signal-to-background ratio (S/B) compared with GD atomic emission spectrometry were observed. Simultaneous pulsing of the GD and delaying of the flashlamp gives larger S/B ratios resulting from a reduction in emission background.