RESUMEN
The analysis of inorganic atomic species is greatly facilitated by the coupling of lasers with mass spectrometers. A tunable dye laser, alone or in combination with a pump laser, ionizes atoms by resonant excitation processes; the ions are then analyzed in the mass spectrometer. The laser-mass spectrometer system promises to overcome traditional limits of sensitivity and selectivity and to have diverse applications in analytical chemistry.
RESUMEN
We review atomic flame spectrometry of metals based on the selective laser-enhancement of the rate of atomic ionization. A discussion of basic principles, prior literature, and instrumentation is followed by an overview of analytical figures of merit for the technique, and a look at its present status and areas for future development.
