Every measurement of a radiating object is naturally an emission measurement. However, it makes sense to use the term “emission spectroscopy” for applications that target excited molecules, plasmas, or atoms. The spectrum often undergoes changes over time or follows a pulsed excitation, both of which require synchronization and/or time resolution. This chapter discusses the following emission applications:
• Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES),
• Cathodo luminescence (CL),
• Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy,
• Spark optical emission spectroscopy (Spark-OES),
• Laser ablation (LA),
• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS),
• Laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS),
• Laser-induced plasma deposition (LD),
• Plasma etch (PE) spectroscopy,
• Solar and stellar emission, and
• Combustion emission (spectroscopy of flames and explosions).
As stated in the Preface, the physics, chemistry, and biology of applications are not the topic of this book. Many applications require a spectral light source to work, such as absorption or luminescence applications. Primary sources like that are directly linked to the final result, making them the sole part of the issues discussed. In the emission applications described here, that direct relation is not the case; therefore, the excitation origin of the emitted signals are only mentioned as far as necessary to produce the signal collection and spectral processing.
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