High Intensity Electrodeless Sources for Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

The construction and performance of high intensity electrodeless arcs powered by a 3‐kW rf oscillator, operating at about 5 Mc, are described. The inherent light intensity which is realized is as great as any system which uses electrodes. These sources have been used with mercury, cadmium, thallium, helium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. Any substance which exhibits or is at a pressure near 10⁻³ Torr can be converted to a plasma by the technique described. The effectivenss of these arcs for use in Raman spectroscopy is illustrated.