title: Sub-parts-per-quadrillion-level graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry based on laser wave mixing.
abstract: Nonlinear laser wave mixing in a common graphite furnace atomizer is presented as a zeptomole-level, sub-Doppler, high-resolution atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. A nonplanar three-dimensional wave-mixing optical setup is used to generate the signal beam in its own space. Signal collection is efficient and convenient using a template-based optical alignment. The graphite furnace atomizer offers advantages including fast and convenient introduction of solid, liquid, or gas analytes, clean atomization environment, and minimum background noise. Taking advantage of the unique features of the wave-mixing optical method and those of the graphite furnace atomizer, one can obtain both excellent spectral resolution and detection sensitivity. A preliminary concentration detection limit of 0.07 parts-per-quadrillion and a preliminary mass detection limit of 0.7 ag or 8 zmol are determined for rubidium using a compact laser diode as the excitation source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA.
authors.forename: Fritz K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Mickadeit
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berniolles
authors.forename: Helen R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D006108:Graphite; D007834:Lasers; D008433:Mathematics; D012413:Rubidium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite; D012413:Rubidium