LASER SPECTROSCOPY FOR ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY - SELECTED APPLICATIONS INVOLVING THE FLUORESCENCE TECHNIQUE

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