Temperature stabilized spectral source

Claim 2

A temperature stabilized spectral source comprising an electrodeless discharge lamp of the type including a hollow nonconductive lamp body enclosing a volatile excitable substance, a jacket of electrically non-conductive material spaced outwardly around said body having openings through which gas may enter into and flow out of said jacket, means for introducing a stream of gas through one of said openings into and through said jacket around said lamp body therein and out through another of said openings, a microwave energy source including an antenna providing a radiated microwave field at said lamp for exciting said substance therein, heat transfer means for heating the gas in said stream before introduction thereof into said jacket, temperature responsive means in said gas stream, and means for heating said heat transfer means, said temperature responsive means being connected to control said heating means.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said jacket is an open ended quartz cylinder.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said jacket comprises an open ended cylinder provided with a wall opening between its ends through which light from said lamp passes.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said antenna is an A-type antenna which is disposed adjacent one of said open ends of said cylinder and oriented to focus said microwave field on said lamp.

Claim 6

A temperature stabilized spectral source comprising an electrodeless discharge lamp of the type including a hollow non-conductive lamp body enclosing a volatile excitable substance, an electrically non-conductive jacket having electrically non-conductive walls spaced outwardly around said body and having gas inlet and outlet openings, means for moving gas through said inlet and outlet openings to flow through said jacket and around said lamp body therein, a microwave energy source including a radiating antenna providing a microwave field at said lamp for exciting said substance, and means for controlling the temperature of the gas in said jacket.

Claim 7

A temperature stabilized spectral source comprising an electrodeless discharge lamp of the type including a hollow non-conductive lamp body enclosing a volatile excitable substance, an electrically non-conductive jacket having electrically non-conductive walls spaced outwardly around said body and having gas inlet and outlet openings, means for moving gas through said inlet and outlet openings to flow through said jacket and around said lamp body therein, a microwave energy source including a radiating antenna providing a microwave field at said lamp for exciting said substance, and means for controlling the temperature of the gas in said jacket.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said means for controlling the temperature includes heating means remote from said jacket for heating the gas supplied to said inlet opening, and temperature responsive means exposed to the gas after it has passed said heating means controllingly connected to said heating means.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 6 wherein said temperature responsive means is disposed in the path of the gas moving from said heating means toward said lamp body.

Claim 10

A temperature stabilized spectral source comprising an electrodeless discharge lamp of the type including a hollow, electrically non-conductive lamp body enclosing a volatile excitable substance, an elongated electrically non-conductive jacket having electrically non-conductive walls spaced outwardly around said body and having end openings, a gas duct connected to said jacket at one of said end openings and extending away from said jacket, fan means for moving a stream of gas through said duct and into said jacket through said one end opening and out of said jacket through the other end opening, a microwave energy source including an A-type antenna oriented and disposed to radiate a microwave field toward said lamp for exciting said substance, heating means disposed in said duct remote from said lamp for raising the temperature of the gas passing toward said jacket, temperature responsive means exposed to the heated gas entering said jacket, and means comprising said temperature responsive means for controlling said heating means.

Claim 11

A temperature stabilized spectral source comprising an electrodeless discharge lamp of the type including a hollow, electrically non-conductive lamp body enclosing a volatile excitable substance, an elongated electrically non-conductive jacket having electrically non-conductive walls spaced outwardly around said body and having end openings, a gas duct connected to said jacket at one of said end openings and extending away from said jacket, fan means for moving a stream of gas through said duct and into said jacket through said one end opening and out of said jacket through the other end opening, a microwave energy source including an A-type antenna oriented and disposed to radiate a microwave field toward said lamp for exciting said substance, heating means disposed in said duct remote from said lamp for raising the temperature of the gas passing toward said jacket, temperature responsive means exposed to the heated gas entering said jacket, and means comprising said temperature responsive means for controlling said heating means.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 8 wherein said jacket comprises an open ended quartz cylinder, said fan means is located at an end of said duct remote from said jacket and upstream of said heating means, and said temperature responsive means is disposed in said duct between said heating means and said one end opening of said jacket.

Claim 13

Apparatus for performing atomic absorption or atomic fluorescence analysis comprising a hollow non-conductive lamp body containing at least one volatile excitable substance generating a characteristic wavelength of radiant energy when excited and having an optimum operating temperature, an electromagnetic microwave energy source including an A-type antenna radiating a microwave field at said lamp body to excite said substance, means to direct a stream of gas around and in heat-exchange relationship with said lamp body, means to heat said gas stream, and thermostatic control means exposed to said gas stream and connected to said heating means adjusted to cause said heating means to heat said gas to a temperature which will maintain said optimum operating temperature of said lamp body to cause said substance to be excited to optimum emission at said characteristic wavelength.

Claim 14

Apparatus for performing atomic absorption or atomic fluorescence analysis comprising a hollow non-conductive lamp body containing at least one volatile excitable substance generating a characteristic wavelength of radiant energy when excited and having an optimum operating temperature, an electromagnetic microwave energy source including an A-type antenna radiating a microwave field at said lamp body to excite said substance, means to direct a stream of gas around and in heat-exchange relationship with said lamp body, means to heat said gas stream, and thermostatic control means exposed to said gas stream and connected to said heating means adjusted to cause said heating means to heat said gas to a temperature which will maintain said optimum operating temperature of said lamp body to cause said substance to be excited to optimum emission at said characteristic wavelength.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10, and wherein the excitable substance comprises a metal.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10, and wherein the excitable substance comprises a metal halide.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 10, and wherein said means for directing the stream of gas comprises a quartz jacket surrounding said lamp body and means for moving the stream through said jacket, and wherein said heating means is disposed spacedly upstream from said jacket.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13, and wherein said heating means comprises a heater coil, and said thermostatic control means comprises means to deliver a regulated current to said heater coil in accordance with variations of the temperature of the gas downstream from said coil and upstream of said lamp body.