High-Frequency Plasma Gun Discharges and the Development of a Theta-Pinch Plasma Gun for Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

Abstract

While the plasma gun discharge source developed in our lab has demonstrated its utility as a direct solids analysis tool for atomic emission spectrometric measurements, much of the discharge energy (as well as subsequent re-excitation source energy) is wasted on the vaporization of the graphite electrodes used in the creation of the plasma. We report here on our initial studies of systems suitable for the electrodeless production of plasma gun discharges (theta-pinch plasma gun). Since theta-pinch capacitive discharges must be at a considerably higher frequency than those typically used to date in our lab, the emission and electrical properties of conventional (i.e., with electrodes) plasma gun discharges generated with these high-frequency discharge systems have been studied. The plasma expulsion and propagation properties of these high-frequency plasma gun systems will be described and our initial results with systems developed for the electrodeless (theta-pinch) plasma gun discharges presented.

1997 FACSS Conference; Providence, RI., U.S.A.