New SHS Spectrometer Technology Enables High-resolution Atomic Absorption Studies

Researchers at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Berlin, Germany, have developed a new technique for high-resolution atomic absorption studies. In an article published in the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, lead author Yi You details how a spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) was combined with a flame atomic absorption (FAA) setup to extract spectral information encoded in the interferograms (1).

Atomic Particle 3D Illustration | Image Credit: © Ezume Images - stock.adobe.com

The combination of SHS with FAA involves the use of a high-resolution interferometric spectrometer to measure atomic absorption spectra in a flame plume. SHS provides a cost-effective and space-efficient solution to high-resolution spectroscopy in the ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectral range. In SHS, the incoming light is mixed with a reference beam, creating a pattern of interference fringes that encodes spectral information. The SHS signal is recorded using a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector and decoded using Fourier transform techniques to obtain absorption spectra. By exploiting advances in modern computational power, the spectral information encoded in the SHS interferograms can be extracted and separated, enabling the recognition of narrow-band absorption lines.

The technique exploits advances in modern computational power, allowing researchers to distinguish between the illumination background and absorption information contained in the single SHS absorption interferogram. This has enabled the recognition of previously unseeable interferometric ingredients corresponding to narrow-band absorption lines.

In the study, the researchers demonstrated the construction of sodium (Na) absorbance spectra from a single image, showing the potential for the described single-image approach to investigate highly dynamic systems, whereby background collections can be obviated. This has wide-ranging implications for fields such as environmental monitoring and chemical analysis, where traditional techniques may not be sensitive enough to detect low concentrations of target elements.

The SHS technology could revolutionize the field of atomic absorption studies, providing a powerful new tool for researchers. The technique enables the measurement of broadband-light atomic absorption with high resolution, which was previously difficult to achieve. The ability to separate out the spectral information encoded in the interferograms means that previously hidden data can now be accessed, opening up new avenues for research.

The study advances the field of analytical atomic spectrometry. SHS demonstrates its potential as a tool for high-resolution atomic absorption studies. The technique has already shown promise in detecting low levels of target elements in dynamic systems, and further research is likely to reveal even more applications for this exciting new technology.

Reference

(1) Li, X.; Riedel, J.; You, Y. Determination of broadband-light atomic absorption through interferometric spectrometry with a spatial heterodyne spectrometer. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 2023, ASAP. DOI: 10.1039/D2JA00367H