Measurement of concentrations of gaseous phase elements
US4150951A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 1977 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/62
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the elemental composition of materials in concentrations as low as a few atoms, or molecules, per cubic centimeter. When introduced into a gas stream containing an excess of an energetic metastable species of nitrogen or noble gas, the material, if atomic, is rapidly and repeatedly excited, or, if molecular, it is decomposed and subsequently certain component atoms of the molecule are excited, and thereupon fluoresce at their characteristic wavelength(s). The wavelength(s) and intensity of the emitted light (fluorescence) are determinative respectively of the identity and the concentration of the atoms of the different elements present.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.