METASTABLE ARGON STABILIZED ARC DEVICES FOR SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS

摘要

PATENT SPECIFICATIONMETASTABLE ARGON STABILIZING ARC DEVICESFOR SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSISABSTRACT:A stabilized arc device is disclosed, to produce lightfor spectroscopic analysis, comprising a housing having achamber with a first electrode, preferably a cathode, therein;a second electrode, preferably an anode, outside such housing;gas supply means for introducing a stabilizing gas, such asargon, into such chamber; orifice means on such housing forminga discharge orifice connecting with the chamber for discharginga stream of the stabilizing gas from the chamber to the secondelectrode to stabilize an electrical arc between the first andsecond electrodes for producing light for spectroscopic ana-lysis; means for introducing a sample material into the arefor vaporization by the arc; the first electrode having anopening therein connecting with the chamber and spaced awayfrom such orifice; and means for producing an outward flow ofsome of the stabilizing gas through such opening in the firstelectrode and in a direction different from the direction ofsuch stream to cause the are to maintain an electrode spotwithin the opening in the first electrode. The orifice meansmay include a conductive nozzle electrode having such dischargeorifice therein, and electrically insulating means for insulat-ing such nozzle electrode from the housing and also from thefirst and second electrodes, whereby the nozzle electrode canassume an intermediate electrical potential between the elect-rical potential of such first and second electrodes.- i -