Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Preparing a Celadonite Electron Source and Estimating Its Brightness
Published on: November 5, 2019
The design and characteristics of direct current glow discharge atomic emission source operated with plain and hollow
1Physics Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, P.O. Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan. qayyum@pinstech.org.pk
Abstract:
A compact direct current glow discharge atomic emission source has been designed and constructed for analytical applications. This atomic emission source works very efficiently at a low-input electrical power. The design has some features that make it distinct from that of the conventional Grimm glow discharge source. The peculiar cathode design offered greater flexibility on size and shape of the sample. As a result the source can be easily adopted to operate in Plain or Hollow Cathode configuration. I-V and spectroscopic characteristics of the source were compared while operating it with plain and hollow copper cathodes. It was observed that with hollow cathode, the source can be operated at a less input power and generates greater Cu I and Cu II line intensities. Also, the intensity of Cu II line rise faster than Cu I line with argon pressure for both cathodes. But the influence of pressure on Cu II lines was more significant when the source is operated with hollow cathode.
Related Concept Videos
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Principle
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Radiation and Light Sources
Two common narrow-range 'line' sources used in AAS are hollow-cathode lamps (HCLs) and...
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
There are three main types of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) instruments: sequential, simultaneous multichannel, and Fourier transform instruments, with the latter being less commonly used.

