The performance of boosted output hollow cathode lamps in flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A study has been made of boosted output hollow cathode lamps, including (a) the relative increase in the intensity of the resonance line on boosting, (b) the effect of boosting on the spectrum of the emitted radiation, (c) the shape of the calibration graphs in flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and (d) the characteristic concentrations and detection limits found using boosted and unboosted lamps. The relative increases in the intensities of the various resonance lines on boosting is much less for modern lamps than was previously reported for early lamps, and reasons for this are discussed. For flame atomic absorption spectrometry the most useful effects of boosting appear to be a sharpening of the resonance line and a reduction in its background. The chief benefit to the analyst of using boosted output lamps is the increased linearity of the calibration graphs and the consequent extension of the range of concentrations that can be measured accurately.