Highly Sensitive Detection of Sodium Atoms in Pure Water by Laser-Excited Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract

Laser-excited atomic fluorescence spectroscopy with a CW dye laser has been applied to the highly sensitive detection of sodium atoms in pure water . The detection limits of the pg/ml level for sodium atoms were obtained using a microwave-induced plasma (MIP) com bined with ohmic heating by a tungsten filament, which supplied the dry sample for the plasma and stabilized the plasma. The optimum conditions were discussed in terms of the length of the quartz discharge tube, the distance between the plasma cavity and the tung sten filament, the carrier gas (helium) flow rate, and the laser power.