Extended range Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry based on a 3-field a.c. magnet

Abstract The dynamic range of a.c. Zeeman atomic absorption (ZAA) analytical curves can be extended 10 times when intensity measurements are performed at three different field strengths, i.e. zero, maximum and intermediate field strength during each modulation cycle of the magnet, rather than at zero and maximum field strength only. The conventional ZAA analytical curve and the extended range curve are obtained simultaneously from one series of standards. The power supply of the magnet is described. In the extended range system the background correction frequency is 50 Hz, whereas the system operates at 100 Hz in the conventional ZAA mode.