Improved spectroscopic characteristics of helium inductively coupled plasma by hydrogen additive

Abstract

In order to improve the plasma properties of helium inductively coupled plasma (ICP), He ICP with a hydrogen additive was studied. Measurements of spectroscopic characteristics were carried out to confirm the effects of adding hydrogen gas. It was found that the atomic emission intensity of analytical lines increases up to hydrogen flow rate of 0.05 to 0.09 l min^-1, and then decreased. The emission intensities of Cs, Cl, and Mg were enhanced by factors of 2, 1.5 and 4, respectively. Compared to our usual He-ICP, the excitation and the rotational temperature increased from 3500 to 4800 K and from 2400 to 2900 K, while the electron number density decreased by 30%.