Effects of Aerosol Introduction on the Analytical Utility of dc Plasma Jets

Abstract

Large aerosol introduction tubes are shown to affect adversely analytical calibration curves and apparent ion-to-atom intensity ratios in two-electrode dc plasma jets. With large chimneys, the aerosol that skirts the plasma results in substantial ground state atom concentrations along the optical axis between the source and detector. The use of excited ion emission lines for analysis circumvents most of the adverse effects.