Answer & Solution
Laser spectroscopy is a highly sensitive technique that utilizes laser light to interact with atoms or molecules, leading to characteristic absorption, emission, or scattering of light. This technique allows for precise identification and quantification of trace elements or species within a complex mixture of gases.
While other spectroscopic techniques like ionization spectroscopy with X-rays (Option A), NMR spectroscopy (Option B), and ESR spectroscopy (Option C) are valuable in various contexts, they may not offer the same level of sensitivity and specificity as laser spectroscopy when it comes to detecting trace amounts of gaseous species in a mixture.
Therefore, Option D: laser spectroscopy is the preferred probing tool for detecting trace amounts of a gaseous species in a mixture of gases in the field of nuclear and particle physics.