How exactly do hollow cathode lamps operate in AA Spectroscopy Instruments?
A. Hollow cathode lamps produce a spectral line source of the element or elements contained within the lamps cathode. A common type of AA spectroscopy (Double beam AA) splits the hollow cathode lamps beam into two, one as a reference beam, the other to pass through a flame or furnace of free atoms. The beam passing through the flame or furnace is then partially absorbed by the free atoms of the same element that is within the cathode of the lamp. Hence, the difference between the two beams is proportional to the concentration of the element within the sample solution.
