Publisher's Synopsis
This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the underlying principles and the practical applications and techniques of resonance ionisation spectroscopy (RIS). The field of RIS was originated and developed by a group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the USA - a group that was led by the authors. Thus, the book includes a description of the original work on the technique from those directly involved. The main unifying theme is the conception, perfection and application of a laser technique for the selective and sensitive detection of individual atoms. The physical phenomena involved in RIS are discussed, together with the technique's capabilities as an analytical tool with single-atom sensitivity. Detailed information on the photophysics involved in selective and sensitive ionisation of nearly all elements in the Periodic Table is given. The book includes an in-depth description of laser schemes required for practical utilisation of RIS, with emphasis on both broad band width and narrow band width pulsed lasers. The application of RIS to the detection of noble gases such as 81Kr for ice-cap dating and solar neutrino detection is discussed. Applications to the analysis of solids include uses in such fields as impurity detection in semiconductors, medical research, exploration, and particle physics. The book will appeal to postgraduate and professional-level research scientists such as physicists, chemists, and earth scientists.
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