Tunable atomic line molecular (TALM) spectrometer

A highly specific technique for real time monitoring of simple and complex molecules is described. This technique depends on using the Zeeman effect to tune an atomic emission line to coincide with a sharp molecular absorption feature and has been named TALMS (Tunable Atomic Line Molecular Spectroscopy). Results are presented on the determination of di-atomic (NO), tri-atomic (NO₂, SO₂), tetra-atomic (H₂CO) and more complex molecules. An explanation is offered for the ability of this technique to determine complex molecules, which suggests that the method should be highly specific. It is concluded that work in this area will lead to instrumentation that will be valuable for process control or environmental monitoring.