GB1008361A - Improvements in or relating to spectroscopic devices - Google Patents

Abstract

1,008,361. Glow discharge lamps. LITTON SYSTEMS Inc. April 12, 1962 [April 14, 1961], No. 14199/62. Heading H1D. A method of producing the emission spectrum of a material comprises bombarding the material by the ions of a low pressure discharge to sputter atoms from the material, and exciting the sputtered atoms to higher energy levels. In the embodiment, the material to be examined, 122, 'is sputtered into the space above the magnet 59 by a discharge between anode 56 and mercury cathode 26. The magnetic field causes electrons in this space to spiral, and so increases the probability of exciting the emission spectrum of the sputtered material. The emission spectrum may be viewed either through a window normally protected by a shutter 112, which may be raised by an external magnet to the position 112a, or by observing a mirror inside the tube through a window protected by a shutter from direct deposition of material from the discharge space, Fig. 5 (not shown). The mercury pressure in the tube may be controlled by the temperature of the water jacket 22 surrounding the mercury cathode, or a rare gas may be admitted at the inlet 30, and mercury in the upper part of the tube removed by filling the cold thumb 39 with liquid N 2 , and evacuating at 15. The specimen to be examined may be replaced by removing the upper vessel 12 at the 0-ring coupling 36, and several specimens may be mounted on the plate 58, being sputtered in turn by suitable adjustment of the magnetic fields &c. An ignition electrode 52 may be provided, together with a molybdenum circular strip spot anchor 27, auxiliary anode 54 and graphite grid electrode 50. Specification 1,008,362 is referred to.