Patent ID: 6222186
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An analytical apparatus, comprising:(a) inductively coupled plasma generator (ICPG) for generating a plasma for forming excited atomic, molecular, or ionic species from a sample introduced into the plasma;(b) spectrometer associated with the ICPG for analyzing the species formed in the ICPG, the spectrometer having an analysis mode wherein one or more of the species are identified according to physical characteristics of the species to provide data on the species formed and having a washout mode wherein the spectrometer flushes out interfering ions, atoms, or molecules therein and provides no significant data on the sample;(c) cooling means to cool one or more parts of the apparatus; and(d) controller for modulating the ICPG to operate in power cycles, at each cycle the ICPG operates in an analysis period at one or more analysis power levels to generate plasma to form the species from the sample to correspond to the analysis mode of the spectrometer and the ICPG stands-by in a stand-by period at one or more stand-by power levels lower than the one or more analysis power levels to correspond to the washout mode of the spectrometer, the controller is adapted to modulate the ICPG such that the cooling need of the apparatus by the cooling means is reduced.