This article is cited in 5 papers

Detection of low lead concentrations by laser-excited atomic fluorescence

M. A. Bol'shov, A. V. Zybin, V. G. Koloshnikov

Institute of spectroscopy of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Abstract: An investigation was made of the feasibility of detecting extremely low $Pb$ concentrations by laser-excited atomic fluorescence. Lead was selected as an example of a three-level atomic system with an intermediate metastable level. Accumulation of atoms in the metastable level resulted in a sharp decrease in the number of fluorescence photons emitted by a single atom in a strong resonance field compared with that found in twolevel atomic systems such as $Na$. As a result, the threshold for observation of extremely low concentrations of atomic vapor increased substantially. Lead atoms were excited by the second harmonic of a pulsed dye laser at a wavelength of 283.3 nm and fluorescence was recorded at 405.8 nm. A detection limit in accordance with the $3\sigma$ criterion of 250 atoms/cm${}^3$ or 30 atoms per analytical volume was achieved. Possible methods of improving the sensitivity are discussed.

UDC: 535.371:621.373.8

PACS: 82.80.Di, 32.50.+d, 42.60.He

Received: 04.03.1980

 English version: Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1980, 10:8, 1042–1044

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