Spectrochemical analysis

Claim 2

Excitation apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising means for holding a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed, means for directing a coherent beam of photons onto said sample with sufficient energy to dislodge a portion to be analyzed from the sample, and auxiliary means for raising the excitation energy of the dislodged portion so produced to cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of chemical elements present in said dislodged portion.

Claim 3

Excitation apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising means for holding a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed, means for directing a coherent light beam onto said sample with sufficient energy to dislodge a portion of the sample to be analyzed, and auxiliary means for raising the excitation energy of the dislodged portion so produced to cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements present in said vapor.

Claim 4

Excitation apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising means for holding a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed, means for directing a coherent light beam onto said sample with sufficient energy to dislodge a portion of the sample to be analyzed, and auxiliary means for raising the excitation energy of the dislodged portion so produced to cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements present in said vapor.

Claim 5

Excitation apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising means for holding a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed, electrode means defining a gap adjacent said sample holder means, means to create an electric field across said gap, and means for directing a coherent beam of photons onto said sample with sufficient energy to eject a portion to be analyzed from the sample into said gap to cause breakdown of said electric field and cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of chemical elements present in said ejected portion.

Claim 6

Excitation apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising means for holding a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed, electrode means defining a gap adjacent said sample holder means, means to create an electric field across said gap, and means for directing a coherent beam of photons onto said sample with sufficient energy to eject a portion to be analyzed from the sample into said gap to cause breakdown of said electric field and cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of chemical elements present in said ejected portion.

Claim 7

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising a maser having its axis oriented to direct a coherent beam of photons onto a surface area of a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed with sufficient energy to cause emanation from such sample of a column of vaporized material, auxiliary means for raising the excitation energy of the vaporized material so produced to cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements present in said vaporized material, and means for spectroscopically examining said radiations.

Claim 8

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising a maser having its axis oriented to direct a coherent beam of photons onto a surface area of a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed with sufficient energy to cause emanation from such sample of a column of vaporized material, auxiliary means for raising the excitation energy of the vaporized material so produced to cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements present in said vaporized material, and means for spectroscopically examining said radiations.

Claim 9

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising an optical maser having its axis oriented to direct a coherent light beam onto a surface area of a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed with sufficient energy to cause emanation from such sample of a column of vaporized material, a pair of spaced electrodes defining a gap therebetween which intersects the path of the vapor column so emanating from said sample, means for impressing an electric potential across said electrodes to raise the excitation energy of vapor emanating into said gap and cause emission therefrom of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements in said vapor, and means for spectroscopically examining said radiations.

Claim 10

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising an optical maser having its axis oriented to direct a coherent light beam onto a surface area of a sample to be spectrochemically analyzed with sufficient energy to cause emanation from such sample of a column of vaporized material, a pair of spaced electrodes defining a gap therebetween which intersects the path of the vapor column so emanating from said sample, means for impressing an electric potential across said electrodes to raise the excitation energy of vapor emanating into said gap and cause emission therefrom of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements in said vapor, and means for spectroscopically examining said radiations.

Claim 11

Spectrochemical analysis apparatus comprising a source of a coherent beam of photons, means for holding a sample of material to be analyzed, means for directing said beam of photons onto said sample with sufficient energy to raise chemical elements in the portion of the sample subjected to said beam of photons to at least dissociative energy levels, auxiliary means for raising chemical elements from dissociative energy levels to spectroemissive energy levels, and means for sensing a change in radiation due to the raised energy levels of said chemical elements in a spectrochemical analysis operation.

Claim 12

Spectrochemical analysis apparatus comprising a source of a coherent beam of photons, means for holding a sample of material to be analyzed, means for directing said beam of photons onto said sample with sufficient energy to raise chemical elements in the portion of the sample subjected to said beam of photons to at least dissociative energy levels, auxiliary means for raising chemical elements from dissociative energy levels to spectroemissive energy levels, and means for sensing a change in radiation due to the raised energy levels of said chemical elements in a spectrochemical analysis operation.

Claim 13

The spectrochemical apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said photon beam directing means includes means for focusing said beam, and further including optical means including said focusing means for visually inspecting the particular portion of said sample on which said beam is to impinge.

Claim 14

The spectrochemical analysis apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said auxiliary means includes a pair of spaced electrodes positioned between said source of photons and said sample holder, and means for establishing an electrostatic field between said electrodes having an energy potential sufficient to raise all the chemical elements in a vapor introduced between said electrodes to spectroemissive energy levels, said electrodes being positioned relative to said sample holder so that vapor emitted from the sample as a result of impingement of the coherent beam of photons on said sample disturbs the electric field sufficiently to cause an electrical breakdown between said electrodes and a resulting transfer of energy to said vapor.

Claim 15

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising a maser for generating a coherent beam of photons in a pulse of less than 100 microseconds duration, means for holding a sample of material to be analyzed, means for directing said beam of photons from said maser onto said sample with sufficient energy to raise all the chemical elements in a portion of the sample subjected to said beam of photons to at least dissociative energy levels to produce a column of vapor, and electric discharge means for subjecting the chemical elements in said column of vapor to supplemental excitation to raise said chemical elements in said column to spectroemissive energy levels to cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements present in said sample portion.

Claim 16

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising a maser for generating a coherent beam of photons in a pulse of less than 100 microseconds duration, means for holding a sample of material to be analyzed, means for directing said beam of photons from said maser onto said sample with sufficient energy to raise all the chemical elements in a portion of the sample subjected to said beam of photons to at least dissociative energy levels to produce a column of vapor, and electric discharge means for subjecting the chemical elements in said column of vapor to supplemental excitation to raise said chemical elements in said column to spectroemissive energy levels to cause emission, within a spectroscopically examinable field, of electromagnetic radiations characteristic of all the chemical elements present in said sample portion.

Claim 17

The spectrochemical analysis apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said supplemental excitation means includes a pair of spaced electrodes positioned between said maser and said sample holder, said electrodes being positioned on opposite sides of the path of said beam of photons, electrical energy storage means connected in circuit with said electrodes, and means for energizing said electrical energy storage means to establish an electric field between said electrodes having an energy potential sufficient to raise the chemical elements in a vapor introduced between said electrodes to spectroemissive energy levels, said electrodes being positioned relative to said sample holder so that vapor emitted from the sample as a result of impingement of the coherent beam of photons on said sample disturbs the electric field sufficiently to cause an electrical breakdown between said electrodes and release of energy from said storage means.

Claim 18

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said photon beam directing means includes means for focusing said beam on said sample, and further including optical means including said focusing means for visually inspecting the particular portion of said sample on which said beam is to impinge.

Claim 19

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising a maser for generating a coherent beam of photons, means for holding a sample of material to be analyzed, means for directing said beam of photons from said maser onto said sample with sufficient energy to eject a column of particles from a portion of the sample subjected to said beam of photons, a pair of spaced electrodes positioned between said maser and said sample holder, said electrodes being positioned on opposite sides of the path of said beam of photons, means for establishing an electrostatic field between said electrodes hAving an energy potential sufficient to raise all the chemical elements in said column introduced between said electrodes to spectroemissive energy levels, said electrodes being positioned relative to said sample holder so that the column ejected from the sample as a result of impingement of the coherent beam of photons on said sample disturbs the electric field sufficiently to cause an electrical breakdown between said electrodes, and means for spectroscopically examining radiations resulting from said spectroemissive energy levels.

Claim 20

Apparatus useful in spectrochemical analysis comprising a maser for generating a coherent beam of photons, means for holding a sample of material to be analyzed, means for directing said beam of photons from said maser onto said sample with sufficient energy to eject a column of particles from a portion of the sample subjected to said beam of photons, a pair of spaced electrodes positioned between said maser and said sample holder, said electrodes being positioned on opposite sides of the path of said beam of photons, means for establishing an electrostatic field between said electrodes hAving an energy potential sufficient to raise all the chemical elements in said column introduced between said electrodes to spectroemissive energy levels, said electrodes being positioned relative to said sample holder so that the column ejected from the sample as a result of impingement of the coherent beam of photons on said sample disturbs the electric field sufficiently to cause an electrical breakdown between said electrodes, and means for spectroscopically examining radiations resulting from said spectroemissive energy levels.