Abstract: The invention provides an element (12), comprising: a nanoporous insulating film (20) (such as a thin nanoporous diamond film) and first and second conducting layers (18a, 18b) on first and second opposed sides respectively of the film (20). Also provided are a vacuum pump (10), an ion source (80) and an ion trap (98), each comprising such an element (12).

Abstract: An atomic absorption spectrometer is disclosed which includes a monochromater and an optical path defined by a toric mirror, a flat mirror, a flat mirror, a flat mirror, a toric mirror, and a further toric mirror. The toric mirror directs light through entrance slit of the monochromater so that radiation is reflected from diffraction grating and out exit slit to a detector. A sample stage in the form of a furnace is located between the mirrors. The monochromater is oriented so that the entrance slit is arranged transverse to the vertical.

Abstract: A rheometer and method of making rheological measurements are disclosed, in which a sample is supported between plates and an alternating movement is applied by a driver, support rod and plate. Force and displacement measurements are taken and the property determined from those measurements. The vibrating signal which is applied is in the form of a frequency sweep signal having a monotonic group delay function. The top plate is provided with a surface which causes a meniscus to form up a side edge of the plate to reduce the spring nature of the sample when the movement is supplied to the sample, and a supporting rod which supports the top plate is preferably formed from a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that the gap between the plates is maintained substantially constant if the sample is heated to take measurements at different temperatures.

Abstract: A spectrometer is disclosed which comprises a plasma torch and an induction coil for generating a normal plasma within the torch. The torch has an outer tube and an inner tube. If the plasma collapses from a normal plasma state to a toroidal or faulty plasma shape, a photodiode detects the change in shape so that the plasma torch can be shut down to prevent the plasma shape from melting the tube of the torch.

Abstract: A rheometer and method of making rheological measurements are disclosed, in which a sample is supported between plates and an alternating movement is applied by a driver, support rod and plate. Force and displacement measurements are taken and the property determined from those measurements. The vibrating signal which is applied is in the form of a frequency sweep signal having a monotonic group delay function. The top plate is provided with a surface which causes a meniscus to form up a side edge of the plate to reduce the spring nature of the sample when the movement is supplied to the sample, and a supporting rod which supports the top plate is preferably formed from a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that the gap between the plates is maintained substantially constant if the sample is heated to take measurements at different temperatures.

Abstract: A rheometer and method of making rheological measurements is disclosed, in which a sample is supported between plates and an alternating movement is applied by a driver, support rod and plate. Force and displacement measurements are taken and the property determined from those measurements. The vibrating signal which is applied is in the form of a frequency sweep signal having a monotonic group delay function. The top plate is provided with a surface which causes a meniscus to form up a side edge of the plate to reduce the spring nature of the sample when the movement is supplied to the sample, and a supporting rod which supports the top plate is preferably formed from a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that the gap between the plates is maintained substantially constant if the sample is heated to take measurements at different temperatures.

Abstract: An atomic absorption spectrometer is disclosed which includes a monochromater and an optical path defined by a toric mirror, a flat mirror, a flat mirror, a flat mirror, a toric mirror, and a further toric mirror. The toric mirror directs light through entrance slit of the monochromater so that radiation is reflected from diffraction grating and out exit slit to a detector. A sample stage in the form of a furnace is located between the mirrors. The monochromater is oriented so that the entrance slit is arranged transverse to the vertical.

Abstract: An atomic absorption spectrometer is disclosed which includes a monochromater (30) and an optical path defined by a toric mirror (14), a flat mirror (16), a flat mirror (20), a flat mirror (24), a toric mirror (22) and a further toric mirror (26). The toric mirror (26) directs light through entrance slit (32) of the monochromater (30) so that radiation is reflected from diffraction grating (38) and out exit slit (40) to a detector (42). A sample stage (18) in the form of a furnace is located between the mirrors (16) and (20). The monochromater is oriented so that the entrance slit is arranged transverse to the vertical.

Abstract: A burner assembly and a gas box for an atomic absorption spectrometer are disclosed. The burner assembly has a spray chamber (12) for receiving oxygen, fuel and sample material and a burner (11) located on the spray chamber for receiving the mixture so the mixture can be ignited to produce a flame to facilitate analysis of the sample material by atomic absorption of radiation. Pressure transducer (30) is provided for measuring the pressure in the spray chamber so that the pressure is not of a predetermined level the burner can be shut off. A fuel line (29) supplies fuel to the spray chamber (12) and an airline (28) supplies air to the chamber (12). The lines (28) and (29) include flow restrictors (38) and (54) creating an accurate pressure drop thereby ensuring correct mixture of air and fuel.

Abstract: A time of flight (TOF) analysis device such as a TOF spectrometer is disclosed which includes a torch and sample introduction system for supplying a beam of ions to an orthogonal accelerator. The orthogonal accelerator deflects ions in the beam sideways to an ion reflector and then to a detector. The spectrometer includes a time to digital conversion circuit and an integrated transient recorder. The detector can include a series of dynodes and the voltage between dynodes can be varied in order to maintain a constant voltage between an ion sensitive surface and the last of the dynodes. A second ion mirror may be used for reflecting some of the ions towards the detector. The orthogonal accelerator is configured and powered to provide spatial focussing according to a predetermined condition. The spectrometer may also include vertical focussing for focussing the beam back to a size commensurate with the size of the detector after the beam has been focussed by beam forming optics.

Abstract: A spectrometer using Zeeman background correction is disclosed which has a sample producer (100) for producing a cloud of atoms, an electromagnetic radiation source (102) for irradiating the atom cloud, a detector (104) for detecting the radiation after it passes through the atom cloud and an electromagnet (14) for applying a magnetic field to the atom cloud. A power supply and switching unit (106) for powering the electromagnet and switching the electromagnet on and off to create a Zeeman effect are provided. The switching unit has transistors (16-22, 40, 42, 50, 52) controlled by a control circuit (25), and the power supply includes a rectifier (10) and one or more capacitors (12, 12a, 12b). The switching time is typically on the order of 1-1.5 ms or less and the high voltage which is applied is on the order of 400-800 V.