Perspectives in the development of the theory of spark-source and laser-plasma source mass-spectrometry

The processes of substance evaporation and atom ionization under different conditions of spark discharge or laser radiation are considered. It is shown that the dependence of the relative sensitivity coefficients on the properties of an element can be presented as the product of two exponents with parameters proportional to the atomization energies and first ionization potentials of the element. Differences in matrix composition and conditions influencing a sample in the ion source are considered by means of introducing two fitting parameters-atomization and ionization "temperatures"-into these exponents. Experiments carried out with the help of mass-spectrometers with spark and laser ion sources have corroborated the validity of the suggested quasi-equilibrium model and shown the possibility of its application for the improvement of the accuracy of analysis without use of standards as well as for checking the stability of experimental conditions in the process of analysis with standard samples.