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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Multicolor Fluorescence Detection for Droplet Microfluidics Using Optical Fibers
Published on: May 5, 2016
Detection of mercuric chloride by photofragment emission using a frequency-converted fiber amplifier
Alexandra A Hoops1, Thomas A Reichardt, Dahv A V Kliner
1Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 969, MS 9056, Livermore, California 94551, USA. aahoops@sandia.gov
Abstract:
A real-time, noninvasive approach for detecting trace amounts of vapor-phase mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)) in combustion flue gas is demonstrated using a near-infrared pulsed fiber amplifier that is frequency converted to the ultraviolet. Excitation of the HgCl(2) ([see text]) transition at 213 nm generates 253.7 nm emission from the Hg (6(3)P(1)) photoproduct that is proportional to the concentration of HgCl(2). A measured quadratic dependence of the HgCl(2) photofragment emission (PFE) signal on the laser irradiance indicates that the photodissociation process involves two-photon excitation. Additionally, low concentrations of HgCl(2) are detected with the PFE approach in an environment characteristic of coal-fired power-plant flue gas using this compact solid-state laser source. A detection limit of 0.7 ppb is extrapolated from these results.
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