https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.F02458
An instrument used to measure the intensity and the
wavelength
distribution of the light emitted as fluorescence
from a molecule excited at a specific wavelength
or wavelengths within the absorption band of a particular compound. Characteristic fluorescence
bands may be used to identify specific pollutants such as the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
. Excitation spectra of impurities can be observed by scanning the wavelength
of the excitation light which is incident on the sample over a range of wavelengths and observing the relative intensity of the fluorescence
emitted at a given wavelength
. These spectra are also characteristic of the impurity.