Patent ID: 6222626
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An atomic absorption spectrometer (100; 200; 300; 400), comprising:a plurality of light sources including at least one light source (150; 250; 350; 450, 451) emitting line radiation corresponding to at least one element to be detected and a continuum light source (380; 480) emitting continuum radiation for background correction;a measuring light path (110; 210; 310; 410) leading from said plurality of light sources, through an atomization means (160; 260; 360; 460) for atomizing a sample containing the element to be detected, to a detection means (130; 230; 330; 430),a reference light path (120; 220; 320; 420) leading from said plurality of light sources to the detection means (130; 230; 330; 430),a beam splitting means (140; 240; 340; 440) for simultaneously guiding a first component of radiation from said plurality of light sources along the measuring light path (110; 210; 310; 410), and a second component of radiation from said plurality of light sources along the reference light path (120; 220; 320; 420); and,a control means (190; 290; 390; 490) for time dependently controlling the intensity of each of said plurality of light sources such that each of said plurality of light sources is activated alternately in a predetermined sequence.