Laser spectroscopy for atmospheric chemistry: selected applications involving the fluorescence technique

The application of laser-based techniques to the study of different problems related to atmospheric chemistry is well established. Among the various laser spectroscopic methods, the focus here is directed towards selected applications of the laser photofragmentation and fluorescence techniques, which are used to investigate the complex chemistry of tropospheric sulphur species, with particular emphasis on the oxidation of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and the consequent formation of sulphuric acid, and to the possibility of detecting with very high sensitivity and selectivity a particular element (e.g., gold) in size-segregated aerosol particles in view of its possible release as a tracer in the atmosphere. The atomic fluorescence technique is also applied to the real time detection of lead in a miniature air-acetylene flame, in which monodisperse aerosol particle are introduced.