Atomic line emission analyzer for hydrogen isotopes

Patent · 30 March 1993

OSTI ID:6260701

Kronberg, J W

Apparatus for isotopic analysis of hydrogen comprises a low pressure chamber into which a sample of hydrogen is introduced and then exposed to an electrical discharge to excite the electrons of the hydrogen atoms to higher energy states and thereby cause the emission of light on the return to lower energy states, a Fresnel prism made at least in part of a material anomalously dispersive to the wavelengths of interest for dispersing the emitted light, and a photodiode array for receiving the dispersed light. The light emitted by the sample is filtered to pass only the desired wavelengths, such as one of the lines of the Balmer series for hydrogen, the wavelengths of which differ slightly from one isotope to another. The output of the photodiode array is processed to determine the relative amounts of each isotope present in the sample. Additionally, the sample itself may be recovered using a metal hydride.

• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: IMS; EDB-93-121417
• Patent Number(s): US 5198870; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-697032
• OSTI ID: 6260701
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102* -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
440600 -- Optical Instrumentation-- (1990-)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISORPTION
DATA ANALYSIS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FRESNEL LENS
HYDROGEN
ISOTOPE RATIO
LENSES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
NONMETALS
PHOTODETECTORS
PHOTODIODES
PHOTON EMISSION
PROCESSING
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SORPTION
VACUUM SYSTEMS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING