This, the second annual review on atomisation and excitation, continues our policy of offering a regular distillation of the literature on analytical atomic spectrometry with the aim of highlighting those developments which have, or potentially will make, a significant contribution to our understanding of the fundamental processes. By reporting material from both conference presentations and published papers, it is hoped to provide readers with the most up-to-date information possible. At the same time, the accumulation of these reviews together with information published in the Annual Reports on Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy provides a unique historical record of developments in this field. Further reviews covering atomisation and excitation processes and related topics may be found in the following references: 86/1813, 86/1960, 86/1961, 86/1962, 87/23, 87/108, 87/109, 87/663, 87/666.