Abstract Ion cyclotron resonance stimulated glow-discharge devices are disclosed. In these devices an ensemble of gaseous material comprising at least two different gaseous constituents is ionized to produce ions of at least one of the gaseous constituents. A radio-frequency field at the cyclotron resonance frequency of the ionized gaseous constituent is applied to the gas for exciting cyclotron resonance of the ionized constituent in a magnetic field. The cyclotron resonant ion absorbs energy from the applied radio-frequency field substantially increasing its translational velocity. The cyclotron resonant ion is chemically interacted as by an exchange collision with the second gaseous constituent of the gas sample to produce a gaseous product having an excited electronic energy state. The excited electronic energy state decays by the emission of photons of optical radiation which are extracted from the ensemble of gas for use.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said analyzer means includes means for detecting said modulation of the emitted optical radiation at a frequency related to the certain modulation frequency of the applied radio frequency energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including, means for separating and detecting the emitted optical radiation according to wavelength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for detecting modulation of the emitted optical radiation includes a phase sensitive detector for comparing the phase of the modulation of the radio frequency energy with the phase of the modulation of the detected optical radiation to obtain an output.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
100 words
The method for producing optical radiation comprising the steps of, causing an ensemble of gaseous material having first and second gaseous constituents to be disposed in a magnetic field, ionizing the first gaseous constituent, applying radio frequency energy to the first ionized gaseous constituent at the ion cyclotron resonance frequency thereof in the magnetic field to stimulate a reaction of said first ionized constituent and said second gaseous constituent to produce a gaseous reaction product having an excited electronic energy state which decays by emitting photons of optical radiation, and analyzing said optical radiation to determine the spectral content thereof.