Darmstadt 2008 – scientific programme

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MO: Fachverband Molekülphysik

MO 17: Elektronische Spektroskopie

MO 17.7: Poster

Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 14:00–19:00, Poster C1

Isotope-specific and ultra-sensitive detection of nitric oxide: Application to exhaled air analysis — Christoph Mitscherling, •Christof Maul, and Karl-Heinz Gericke — Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Hans-Sommer-Str. 10

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI) are extremely sensitive spectroscopic techniques for the investigation of low nitric oxide (NO) concentrations.

The mass selectivity of the REMPI method allows to identify spectral windows in which the most abundant isotopologues ¹⁴N¹⁶O, ¹⁵N¹⁶O, and ¹⁴N¹⁸O can be monitored free from spectroscopic interference by each other. For this detection the A²Σ⁺← X²Π_Ω transition (NO γ bands) is used which is easily accessible in the ultraviolet wavelength range around 225nm.

Carefully selected rovibrational transitions are employed for the isotope-specific, ultra-sensitive detection of NO in exhaled air by laser induced fluorescence. Applications to on-line NO measurements for human breath analysis will be presented and dicussed.