New Ion Sources for Mass Spectroscopy

Abstract

FOR use in connexion with a new mass-spectrograph, I have recently developed a new type of ion source in which positively charged atoms are formed by sparks between solid electrodes in a high vacuum. Spectroscopic studies in recent years have shown that these vacuum sparks are efficient sources of multiply charged ions. Several forms of sparks were tried; the trembleur à vide the hot-sparks from a large condenser discharge, and finally a spark coupled inductively to a high-frequency oscillating spark circuit. This latter has proved very successful, and an abundance of ions has been obtained, thus far from the following elements: platinum, gold, tungsten, tin, copper, nickel, iron, aluminium, carbon, beryllium and lithium.