Trace Element Analysis of Potassium by Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A simple resonance ionization mass spectrometer is built with a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) and two laser diodes aiming at trace analysis of potassium. The overall detection efficiency is estimated comparing the yields of resonance ionization and electron-impact ionization in the same QMS. A clear discrimination of ${}^{39}\mathrm{K}$, ${}^{40}\mathrm{K}$ and ${}^{41}\mathrm{K}$ is demonstrated with a help of isotope shifts of the atomic levels.

14 pages, 9 figures, submitted to JJAP