Abstract

UV laser produced microplasmas have been recently evaluated as potential novel detectors for gas chromatography.¹ Microplasmas provide signals for photoacoustic, optogalvanic, as well as photometric detection. The emission from these microplasmas was subsequently wavelength-resolved and it has been shown that each analyte molecule exhibits a unique plasma emission spectrum.² More recently, time-resolved microplasma emission studies were undertaken to determine plasma parameters such as electron density as well as neutral and ionic temperatures.³ Currently our research is aimed at exploring possible laser wavelength effects on the microplasma formation process and on microplasma characteristics.

© 1993 Optical Society of America