Abstract

Degenerate four-wave mixing, or DFWM, has been shown to have considerable potential as a technique for optical spectrometry (1)(2). Spectral resolution comparable to the natural linewidth can be obtained for atomic vapor samples due to the Doppler free nature of the measurements. To our knowledge, however, the applicability of the DFWM technique to trace elemental analysis has not been explored. Pender and Hesselink (3) have shown that DFWM can take place in an air-acetylene flame with sodium from an aspirated aqueous solution as the sample. However, they were attempting to show that DFWM could be used as a combustion diagnostic tool and involved measurements at relatively high concentrations. In this talk we will present the results of a study of degenerate four-wave mixing in atomic sodium produced in an analytical flame.

© 1987 Optical Society of America