MOLECULAR-EMISSION CAVITY ANALYSIS - PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS

Molecular emission cavity analysis (MECA) is a chemiluminescence techn ique in which molecular emissions are generated within a cavity that i s introduced into a hydrogen diffusion flame. The hydrogen flame acts as the environment of radicals, atoms and molecules which promote the chemical reactions producing excited species and the cavity acts as th e environment for stabilizing the emitting species. The principles, de velopment and applications of MECA are outlined and future possibiliti es are discussed.