Abstract: A process is described for the formation of high temperature superconducting materials from perovskites by inductively coupled plasma assisted oxidation. An inductively coupled plasma reactor is used to oxidize oxygen deficient perovskites in less time and at lower temperatures than previously possible. High power densities are created within the plasma reactor. This is thought to contribute to the rapid and low temperature phase change during oxidation from tetragonal to orthorhombic crystal structure apparently required for superconductivity at temperatures greater than approximately 77.degree. K. The low temperature and rapid processing time permits the application of conventional lithographic semiconductor manufacturing techniques to be applied to the potentially high temperature superconducting perovskite materials.

Abstract: In a device for analyzing samples for mercury and/or hydride-forming elements by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, a first arrangement for determining the mercury according to the amalgam method comprising passage throttling means in the form of a washing bottle and a tube connected downstream to a reaction vessel, the other end of which tube is connected to the measuring cell. The tube contains a gold net adapted to be heated and recooled according to the amalgam method. The second arrangement by which hydrides of the sample are directly connected to the measuring cell employs a conduit which leads directly to the measuring cell, bypassing the gold net by branching off from between the reaction vessel and washing bottle. The tube is connectable to a carrier gas source between the washing bottle and position of the gold net in the tube through a first shut-off valve. A second shut-off valve is arranged in the conduit directly leading to the measuring cell.

Abstract: An atomic absorption spectrometer with electrothermal atomization of the sample and background compensation by use of Zeeman effect comprises a furnace (130) for the electrothermal atomization of the sample which furnace is heated transverse to the direction of propagation of the measuring light beam (18) of the atomic absorption spectrometer and a switchable solenoid (44) for generating a magnetic field at the location of the sample which magnetic field extends parallel to the direction of propagation of the measuring light beam (18) such that the longitudinal Zeeman effect is obtained with switching on the solenoid (44). The solenoid (44) has pole pieces (46,48) with aligned apertures (50,52) for the passage of the measuring light beam (18). A contact carrier (96) is arranged on the pole pieces (48,50) in which contact carrier contacts (128,176) are supported in order to hold the transversely heated furnace (130), the axes of said contacts being perpendicular to the axis of the measuring light beam (18).

Abstract: A method of and a device for multi-element measurement of elements in a sample with correction for background emission. The method starts with atomizing a sample and then exciting the transformed atoms to emit light containing characteristic spectral lines for each element, followed by generating a spectrum of spectral lines characteristic of the elements, followed by measuring the intensity of selected spectral lines falling within a predetermined measuring range without changing their intensity. The next steps are sensing the background emission adjacent the selected spectral lines simultaneously with measuring the intensity of selected spectral lines and determining the concentration of each element from the measured intensity of the corresponding spectral line and sensed background emission.

Abstract: A method for determining concentration by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, whereby the sample is supplied to a continuously operating atomizing device of an atomic absorption spectrometer by flow injection technique and generates a transient output signal of the atomic absorption spectrometer, comprises the method steps of supplying a calibration sample with a known concentration of the looked-for element to an atomic absorption spectrometer by flow injection technique, the concentration of the element looked-for in this sample being in a range of minimum standard deviation; storing the obtained transient calibration signal; supplying a sample which is to be analyzed and has an unknown concentration of the looked-for element to the atomic absorption spectrometer by flow injection technique and measuring a transient sample signal; forming signal ratios of the sample signal and the calibration signal at mutually corresponding predetermined moments of time; and determining the concentration of the looked

Abstract: A light absorption detector includes a light source substantially adjacent a window of a chromatogrpahic flow cell. The flow cell is defined by a housing member which also includes a photo-sensitive detector.

Abstract: A system for introducing a sample substance into a spectroscopical analytical instrument which includes a first pump which, when on, pumps a sample liquid and a buffer liquid, and a second pump which, when on, pumps an eluting liquid and rinsing liquid. The system includes an ion exchanger column for retaining the elements of the sample to be determined and which can be eluted by the eluting liquid. A dosing capillary serves to introduce the sample into the furnace of an atomic absorption spectrometer. A valve has a first position wherein the first end of the ion exchanger column communicates with the first pump and the second end communicates with a waste outlet port, and the dosing capillary communicates with a source of displacing fluid; and a second position wherein the second end of the ion exchanger column communicates with the second pump and the first end communicates with the dosing capillary.

Abstract: A device for electrothermal atomization of samples for spectroscopic purposes with a furnace body made of graphite, designed such that electrical current can be passed through, and a pot-shaped sample receptacle which is separated from the furnace body and projects into a lateral aperture of the furnace body comprises a driving device by which the sample receptacle is movable into and out of thermal contact with the furnace body. The driving device together with the heating current of the furnace body is controlled by a controlling device such that the sample receptacle engages the furnace body during a drying and decomposing step and thereafter, is raised from the furnace body by the driving device. Thereafter, with raised sample receptacle, the furnace body is heated to atomization temperature until a temperature stabilization is achieved and, finally, the sample receptacle is again moved into contact with the furnace body.

Abstract: In an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for multielement analysis, the light from a plurality of light sources each of which emits the resonance lines of one associated looked-for element is superimposed into a single light beam by means of interconnected light guides. The light is directed onto a polychromator 64 via an optical coupler.

Abstract: The control apparatus controls the lowering motion of an aspirator tube into a sample vessel in an automatic sample dispenser in a manner such that the smallest possible portion of an external surface of the aspirator tube is wetted by a liquid present in the sample vessel. A servo drive lowers the aspirator tube into the sample vessel. A sensor arrangement containing a single light guide, a light transmitter and a photoelectric receiver is associated with the aspirator tube and responds to light reflections at the liquid surface upon immersion of the lower aspirator tube end into the liquid. The light guide guides the propagating light beam and a returning reflected light beam. An electronic control controls the advancement of the aspirator tube via the servo drive into a position in which a predetermined short length in the region of the lower aspirator tube end dips into the liquid.

Abstract: The volatile sample is entrained by a carrier gas flow leading to a measuring arrangement of an atomic spectrometer through a carrier gas conduit. A tube section containing a gas permeable, inert filling is placed in the carrier gas conduit. A cooling jacket is associated with this tube section. The volatile sample is frozen out and/or adsorbed at the filling. Subsequently, the filling is heated by at least one infrared radiator through the cooling jacket whereby the deposited volatile sample is vaporized and supplied to the measuring arrangement in concentrated manner.

Abstract: An improved electro-optical ion detector comprising a channel electron multiplier assembly located at the angled focal plane of the magnetic sector of a scanning mass spectrometer with a twisted fiberoptic window with a means for precisely optically coupling the assembly to the twisted fiberoptic window. Means are provided for precisely spacing the entrance end of said twisted fiberoptic window in the form of a foil of a selected thickness. Also disclosed is a method for making an improved electro-optical ion detector.

Abstract: In a driving mechanism for driving an oscillating polarizer in a polarimeter, the polarizer is driven by a stepper motor which is controlled by a computer to make a reciprocating movement. A reference position sensor is connected to the oscillating polarizer, to provide a reference signal when the oscillating polarizer is in a determined position. A zero position of the reference position sensor is obtained by spacing the reference position sensor a predetermined number of steps of the stepper motor.

Abstract: For analyzing solid substances on mercury by measuring the atomic absorption, the substance is heated in order to expel the mercury. The generated mercury vapor is conveyed with a carrier gas flow over a body having a large surface made of an amalgam-generating material, so that the mercury vapor bonds and is accumulated as amalgam on the surface of this body. Subsequently, the body is heated in order to set the mercury accumulated as amalgam free again, and is conveyed by a carrier gas flow into a measuring vessel of an atomic absorption spectrometer. The solid substance which is to be analyzed is enclosed within a vessel having a closure which is destroyed during the heating of the solid substance. For this purpose, a cover is sealingly placed onto the vessel above the destructable closure through which cover a carrier gas flow can be supplied and be carried off.

Abstract: An apparatus for the pre-concentration of a sample substance for spectroscopical reasons in the flow injection analysis having an ion-exchanger column of conical shape filled with a granular ion-exchanger. For pre-concentration of the sample, the sample liquid flows through the ion-exchanger column from the smaller first end. Then the pre-concentrated elements are eluted by an eluting liquid from the wider second end. Therewith, a very low dispersion of the eluted sample slug results. Thus, a considerable increase in the degree of sensitivity can be achieved with high analysis frequency.

Abstract: A fluid conduit including a tube having a two-dimensional serpentine opening therethrough and exhibiting low peak dispersion is applicable as an extra-column connection.

Abstract: In a double-beam photometer comprising a light source providing a light beam, detector means, a sample area, optical means for guiding the light beam as a measuring light beam through the sample area onto the detector means, means for guiding the same light beam as a reference light beam onto the detector means while avoiding the sample area, and chopper means disposed in a splitting location for splitting the light beam into the measuring light beam, which are combined into one path of rays in a recombination location, after the measuring light beam has passed through the sample area, with the splitting location and the recombination location being spatially close to each other. The chopper means has a single chopper which simultaneously effects the splitting and the combination of the measuring and reference light beams.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for analyzing mercury by the atomic absorption spectrometry technique consisting of a quartz collecting tube containing a metallic net for collecting an amalgam of mercury sample, a heater for heating the collecting tube sufficiently to convert the mercury sample to an atomic state for appropriate analysis at another location, and a fluid cooling device for quickly cooling the collecting tube and metallic net to thereby prepare for the next sample analysis. The collecting tube is positioned and arranged such that in a first position it is inside of the heater and quickly after conversion of the mercury sample the tube is moved to a second position outside of the heater and adjacent to the cooling device.

Abstract: A laser system includes a multimode laser diode positioned at a range from a target. Backscatter from the target returns into the diode and to modify the emission. An induced modulation frequency in the emission effects oscillatory mode transitions to create an amplitude modulation in mode power for a selected mode, the mode being selected by an optical spectrum analyser or an interference filter. The diode is positioned initially for a minimum in the amplitude modulation, and readjusted by a selected increment in response to an incremental change in target position so as to reestablish the amplitude modulation to the minimum. The incremental change thereby equals the selected increment.

Abstract: A solenoid serves for generating a magnetic field at the location of a sample which is to be atomized in an atomic absorption spectrometer. A shift of the absorption lines of the atoms in a sample relatively to the emission lines in a measuring light beam (18) passed through the atomized sample is effected by the magnetic field due to the Zeeman effect. The solenoid (44) comprises a pair of pole pieces (46, 48) between which an air gap is formed. An atomizing device atomizes the sample within this air gap. Field coils generate a magnetic flux through the pole pieces (46, 48), the air gap and a magnetic return path (76). The field coils (60, 62) are arranged on pole pieces (46, 48) close to the air gap. The windings of the field coils (60, 62) are formed by tubes (216) which are designed to permit passage of a cooling liquid therethrough.