A method is disclosed of detecting gaseous impurities, particularly halogens, in an ambient atmosphere by repeatedly pulsing a pair of electrodes disposed in that atmosphere with a voltage sufficient to cause a corona discharge in the continuous corona region, and detecting the average (d.c.) current component of such discharge, changes in which correspond to changes in the concentration of such gaseous impurities. Apparatus is disclosed for detecting such impurities in concentrations as low as 1 ppm.
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