Atomic line emission analyzer for hydrogen isotopes
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6260701
- Patent Number(s):
- 5198870
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-697032
- Assignee:
- IMS; EDB-93-121417
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 8 May 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; HYDROGEN; ISOTOPE RATIO; PHOTODETECTORS; DESIGN; CHEMISORPTION; DATA ANALYSIS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; EXCITED STATES; FRESNEL LENS; MATERIALS RECOVERY; PHOTODIODES; PHOTON EMISSION; VACUUM SYSTEMS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; ELEMENTS; EMISSION; ENERGY LEVELS; LENSES; MANAGEMENT; NONMETALS; PROCESSING; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SORPTION; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE PROCESSING; 400102* - Chemical & Spectral Procedures; 440600 - Optical Instrumentation- (1990-)
Citation Formats
Kronberg, J W. Atomic line emission analyzer for hydrogen isotopes. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Kronberg, J W. Atomic line emission analyzer for hydrogen isotopes. United States.
Kronberg, J W. Tue .
"Atomic line emission analyzer for hydrogen isotopes". United States.
@article{osti_6260701,
title = {Atomic line emission analyzer for hydrogen isotopes},
author = {Kronberg, J W},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1993},
month = {3}
}