Abstract

While d.c. arc excitation has been conventional for many types of analysis, the erratic volatilization characteristics have always demanded rigidly standardized methods and an unnecessarily high amount of preliminary development. A high amperage a c. arc (<i>Sustaining Arc</i>) has been developed for maximum output at high electrical efficiency. The unit exhibits the greatest improvement for heavy or refractory elements. In general, background is reduced up to 20%, sensitivity improved by 10 to 30%, and reproducibility enhanced by 30 to 100% over a wide range of materials encountered in a commercial laboratory.

A Study Concerning Characteristics of the High-Voltage a.c. Arc

E. A. Boettner and C. F. Tufts
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(3) 192-198 (1947)

A D.C. Arc Source and Automatic Controller*

G. H. Fetterley and W. M. Hazel
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 40(2) 76-79 (1950)

Spectral Radiance of the Carbon Arc Between 2500 Å and 1900 Å

E. Pitz
Appl. Opt. 10(4) 813-818 (1971)

Direct Measurement of the Quantum Counting Efficiency of RCA C31000E/F Photomultipliers at 6328 Å

R. S. Lakes and S. K. Poultney
Appl. Opt. 10(4) 797-800 (1971)

VUV Radiometry with Hydrogen Arcs. 1: Principle of the Method and Comparisons with Blackbody Calibrations from 1650 Å to 3600 Å

W. R. Ott, P. Fieffe-Prevost, and W. L. Wiese
Appl. Opt. 12(7) 1618-1629 (1973)