The oscillator strength in atomic absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

The role of the oscillator strength, f, in the theory of atomic absorption is investigated. For a pure natural broadened absorption line, the peak absorption coefficient α o is independent of the oscillator strength. The peak absorption coefficient becomes dependent on f only through additional broadening processes such as Doppler or collisional broadening. The peak cross section for resonance absorption, α 0/ N 1, for a closed transition with equal statistical weights is given by σ 0 = 2πXXX 2 = ( 2 π )/[c n(ω 0)] (where XXX = λ 2π and n(ω 0) is the spectral mode density of the radiation field at the resonance frequency ω 0) and physically represents the cross-sectional area per allowed mode of the radiation field per unit time per unit frequency interval, multiplied by a lineshape factor 2/π. A summary is presented of some recent determinations of oscillator strengths of atomic absorption lines, based on lifetime measurements made in this laboratory. The results are used to revise values of the theoretical characteristic mass for Ag, Al, Au, Ca, Cu, Mo, Na, Ti and V used in absolute analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.