The application of a piezoelectric scanning Fabry-Perot Interferometer to the study of atomic line sources—III: Use of the channeled spectra produced with a continuum source for studies of the absorption line-width for calcium atoms in flames

An instrumental arrangement has been developed for the interferometric study of the half-width of atomic lines in absorption using a spectral continuum source. The variation of observed half-width of the calcium absorption line at 422·67 nm with calcium concentration has been examined in air-acetylene and nitrous oxide-acetylene flames supported as cylindrical flames with and without flame shielding and at long path burners. Extrapolation of the curves obtained to zero added calcium concentration in the flame may allow for correction for self-absorption and flame characteristics and calculation of collisional broadening half-widths and damping constants (a-parameters).