Sulfur content in steel samples has been determined by laser-produced plasma atomic emission spectroscopy with the use of a Q-switch Nd: YAG laser. With the use of time-resolved spectroscopy employing an OMA III (EG&G) as detector, a detection limit of 70 ppm and a precision of 7% have been obtained. Calibration curves are linear, and no noticeable matrix effects have been observed.

Experimental transition probabilities for 26 lines with origin in the 5s 2 (6p, 6f, 6d, 7s and 5g) con¢guration of Sb III have been determined. Branching ratios have been obtained from measurements of emission-line intensities in an optically thin laser-produced plasma. Calculations with intermediate coupling using Hartree ^Fock wavefunctions and multicon¢guration mixing have been carried out to place the experimental data on an absolute scale by using lifetime values. Comparison between scarce previously published data and present experimental and calculated values has been made.