The Spectroscopy Net

Gateway

The spark includes two phases:

The first phase consists in a low energy discharge produced by a primary circuit applying across the 'entrode' a potential difference in excess of 10 kV for a few μs to ionize the argon and create a conducting plasma.

As soon as this plasma is formed, the second phase starts. The main circuit of the generator discharges through the 'entrode'. The energy of this discharge, 100 to 400 W, is high, and its voltage, 300 to 500 V, moderate. It causes the sample to melt and evaporate at the spark point of impact. The elements present in the plasma are excited and emit their characteristic spectrum.

The total duration of both phases of the spark is only a few milliseconds. To carry out an analysis, a large number of sparks will be used to attack an area of the sample.

Author: Jean Charles Lefebvre, Jobin-Yvon Emission

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