Coaxial cathode ion source for solids mass spectrometry

Sputter-Atomization Studies with a Glow Discharge

“…Interest in our laboratory has centered around the use of the glow discharge as a source for optical emission (15,16), more recently for solids mass spectrometry (6,17,18), and, in this report, for atomic absorption. Our goal is to learn more about the basic phenomena occurring within the discharge and subsequently to apply this information to analytical problems.…”

Dual-discharge ionization source

“…While the sensitivity of ion detectors allows use of the small ion population, an enhancement of the ion-to-neutral ratio would clearly be advantageous. We have improved this ratio significantly by adding a second discharge within the ionization chamber of a coaxial cathode ion source (15). The modified unit now consists of a primary high current discharge onto the analytical sample cathode and a secondary low current discharge directed just across the ion exit orifice.…”