Optogalvanic spectroscopy

The interaction of resonant radiation with atoms or molecules present in a discharge can induce variation in the electrical properties of the discharge. This effect, known as the optogalvanic effect, has been shown to be a powerful and inexpensive technique for the investigation of atomic and molecular species. Many theoretical and experimental articles have been published in the last ten years on this subject. In this review the different types of optogalvanic techniques that have been developed are reviewed and the principal theoretical models are analyzed. The spectroscopic applications are examined. An extensive reference list is included, providing an overview of the literature.