Laser Optogalvanic Spectroscopy: Experimental Details and Potential Applications in R and D

Abstract

Laser Optogalvanic Spectroscopy (LOGS) is an extremely sensitive detection technique based on the 'Optogalvanic Effect'. The impedance change of gaseous discharge following the absorption of resonant laser light by the discharge species has proved to be a powerful spectroscopic tool to investigate all kinds of matter in vapour phase in discharge plasmas and flames. LOGS does not require any optical detector and the signal-to-noise ratios are often greater than 10/sup 3/. The advent of tunable lasers has pushed LOGS as a unique detection technique, efficient over a wide frequency spectrum from UV through visible to IR. As a simple and most sensitive detection technique, LOGS can have diverse practical applications in science and technology. The experimental details with different discharge excitations and the potential applications of LOGS are briefly described. Some prominent practical applications like wavelength calibration, laser linewidth determination, trace element detection, isotope analysis, material characterisation, laser frequency and power stabilisation, Rydberg atom spectroscopy and combustion and plasma diagnostics are briefly discussed.