Flameless measurement of atomic absorption - for analysis using permanent or semi permanent light source esp. permanent beam laser

Process for flameless atom absorption spectroscopy using two light beams, one being an element specific light source and the other a high intensity beam which vapourises and atomises the sample, the first being detected by a detection device. The vaporisation and atomisation of the sample are carried out by a permanent or quasi-permanent light source which irradiates the sample for a prescribed time. This should be a permanent beam or quasi permanent beam laser, the beam from which is focussed. The sample under test is mounted on a transverse table and the radiation from the permanent beam laser is focussed onto a narrow area of it, using a microscope system, having a dia. of 10 to 100 mum. The sample is mounted in a test vessel under a protective gas. Non-element specific radiation is compensated for. Used for spectroscopic analysis. The use of lasers for flameless ionic spectroscopy is known but the duration of a light pulse is measured in multisecs. and this gives considerable problems in the accurate measurement and detection of the test beam, certainly conventional spectrometers not being suitable. The system claimed combines the advantages of laser beams with the use of normal spectrometers having compensators for background absorption.