UV/visible Fourier transform spectroscopy using an inductively-coupled plasma: dual-channel noise cancellation

Abstract

Although technological advances have extended the range of Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS) into the UV/visible spectral domain, its application to spectroscopic and spectrometric problems has been hampered-relative to such applications in the infrared domain-by noise considerations. Although the technique retains high resolution, accurate wavelength registration, and simultaneous broad band coverage, the multiplex advantage present in the IR is severely compromised in the UV/visible due to the relative insignificance of detector noise. In particular, signal-carried noise distributes widely through the spectrum, degrading the dynamic range needed for many spectroscopic and analytical applications. This study demonstrates the use of complementary optical output channels in a commercial FTS to achieve up to ten-fold noise reductions for spectra acquired from an analytical inductively-coupled plasma with conventional pneumatic sample aspiration. The study also demonstrates the advisability of increasing the sampling rate of future instruments to exceed the maximum noise frequency characteristic of droplet evaporation effects.