Plasma jet device and method of operating same
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various plasma jet devices, such as those which employ a direct current and an ionized gas, are useful for generating a plasma jet for spectrometric analysis or for studies of high-temperature chemical and physical phenomena of various materials. In particular, such plasma jet devices are often employed in a spectrometer system, such as in an echelle spectrometer of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,423, wherein a prism and echelle grating are employed and so mounted to provide rotation in two directions, thereby providing adjustment of the vertical and horizontal components of the dispersed energy in the exit focal plane of the spectrometer. Of course, plasma jet devices may be employed usefully in other spectrometers and in other apparatus where high-temperature excitation of a sample material is desired. 
     One plasma jet or excitation source useful, for example, in spectroscopic analysis, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,128. Such a plasma jet device includes a swirl chamber surrounding an anode electrode, into which swirl chamber a premixed atomized sample to be observed and an ionizing carrier gas are introduced. An anode is disposed in the chamber and located opposite an orifice. A cathode is located externally to and spaced from said chamber and at an angle to the axis of the plasma column, so that the cathode is offset from said plasma column. The plasma flame, after exiting from the swirl chamber through the orifices, is bent at an angle to the axis of the plasma column to contact said cathode electrode. This plasma device, while representing an improvement over the prior art, presents certain difficulties associated with the construction of the device. 
     An improvement of this plasma jet device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,413, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The improved plasma jet device comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, with each of the electrodes spaced apart and positioned such that their axes, if extended, would intersect at an angle. Each of the electrodes contains a coaxial sleeve element surrounding the electrodes through which flows an ionizable gas. The ionizable gas in operation forms the plasma jet and provides a continuous column of ionized gas between the anode and cathode electrodes, the plasma jet being characterized in such form by an inverted V-form shape. The plasma jet presents a reaction or excitation zone within the plasma jet at the lower region of the intersection of the extended axis of the anode and cathode electrodes. The plasma jet also includes an external means to introduce a sample, typically in aerosol form, and particularly in an ionizable carrier gas, upwardly between the anode and cathode, so that the sample is introduced directly into the reaction or excitation zone of the plasma arc. 
     In these prior-art plasma arc devices, certain difficulties in operation of the devices have been found in that the position of the plasma arc tends to move about, and, therefore, the excitation or reaction zone moves in position. With such movement of the excitation zone, there is a variation and difference in intensity of the spectrum from the sample being introduced into the zone, and, a difference in the quality and quantity of the spectrometric data. The spectrometric data obtained changes with such destabilization of the plasma arc position. 
     In addition, the prior-art devices have required employment of tungsten anodes. The use of a tungsten anode, rather than, for example, a graphite anode in combination with a tungsten cathode, creates certain difficulties in that the spectral level of tungsten is very high, and provides for a substantial number of up to 4,000 interfering tungsten lines in the spectrum, which may cause interference sometimes with the analysis of the spectrometric data obtained. In contrast, the employment of the graphite anode provides only a few interfering lines in the spectrum. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns an improved plasma jet device, a method of operating the device and using such device and relates to a plasma jet device characterized by an inverted Y-type ionizing gas discharge plasma jet and the employment of a plurality of electrodes of one polarity with a lesser number of electrodes of the opposite polarity. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved plasma jet device and method of operation, wherein the plasma jet is stabilized in position with the employment of a combination of two anode electrodes positioned such that their axes, if extended, would intersect at an angle and a third cathode electrode spaced apart from the offset from the plane of said anode electrodes. The plasma jet so formed is bent at an angle to the axis of the plasma column to provide for the formation of a stabilized plasma arc, and which device permits the employment of graphite as the anode electrodes. 
     It has been discovered that a plasma jet device, having a reaction or excitation zone which is stabilized in position, is obtained through the employment of first and second electrodes of one polarity in combination with a third electrode of a different and opposite polarity than the first and second electrodes, and with the first and second electrodes spaced apart in a position such that their axes, if extended, would intersect at an angle; for example, an angle of 60 to 90 degrees and preferably about 75 degrees, while the third electrode is spaced apart from the angle of intersection of the first and second electrodes and is offset from the plane formed by the intersecting axes, and typically and preferably is offset substantially at a right angle from the plane so as to form in operation a plasma jet of a column of ionized gas between the electrodes, with the plasma jet being characterized by an inverted Y-form. The excitation or reaction zone in the Y-shaped plasma jet is formed at the lower region of the intersection of the extended axes of said first and second electrodes. The plasma jet so formed has an excitation or reaction zone of stabilized position so that the plasma jet device, when employed, for example, in an emission spectroscopy, provides for a constancy in intensity of the spectrum and a reduced tendency of the drifting of the spectrometric data due to destabilization of the zone. 
     The plasma jet device includes coaxial sleeve means to surround the electrodes with an ionizable gas to form the inverted Y-shaped column of ionized gas. In operation, typically the gas is argon or a similar ionizable gas employed in plasma jet devices. The plasma jet device also includes a stable DC power-supply means, and preferably comprises two separate power supplies with the single electrode of one polarity being in common electrical communication with each of the power supplies and with each power supply separately communicating with one of the other electrodes of the other polarity. Preferably, the plurality of electrodes are the anode electrodes and the single or other electrode is a cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is typically a tungsten electrode, while the anode electrodes may be composed of graphite or tungsten. 
     It has been found that the inverted Y plasma jet of the improved plasma jet of the invention is very stable in position. It has been found that, in an inverted V-type plasma jet discharge, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,413, there is a magnetic field with a very high field strength which surrounds the plasma jet, particularly where the ionized gas meets at the intersection. In addition, it has been found that, due to the different polarities, there is a tendency for the column of ionized gas or the plasma to be pushed apart at the excitation of reaction zone formed by the intersection of the ionized columns of gas. Thus, this different polarity of the ionized gas columns, as they come together in the inverted V with the magnetic field, tends to push the gas columns apart and to destabilize or move about the reaction or excitation zone. 
     Furthermore, where the plasma jet device is employed with a means of introducing an aerosol sample material to the reaction zone, such as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,413, the operation of such an aerosol nebulizer further tends to push the plasma columns apart and to destabilize the plasma jet position. Thus, use of an aerosol sample introduction means, particularly where the same is introduced beneath the reaction zone in an ionized gas stream and at a relatively high gas velocity, coupled with the different polarities of the gas stream in the magnetic field, causes destabilization of the plasma jet, so that spectrometric data obtained is not constant in quality or intensity. 
     It has been discovered that the employment of a third cathode electrode offset from the plane of the intersecting axis of the plasma jet provides a stabilized position plasma arc. The electrode combination as described stabilizes the plasma arc, since the two electrodes legs of the inverted Y are of the same polarity, and the ionized column of gas emitted from the first and second electrodes move together in the same direction and are not pushed apart, so that the plasma jet can come together in a defined stable reaction or excitation zone. This results in better position stability, so that, even though an aerosol means is employed to direct a sample material and ionized carrier gas directly into the reaction zone, the reaction zone is not destabilized as in prior-art plasma devices. 
     In addition, it has been found that an important design feature of the three-electrode plasma art device is that the device permits the use of graphite as the anode in place of tungsten for the anode, although tungsten may be used if desired. The use of graphite is very desirous as an anode, since the graphite provides only a few carbon lines in the spectrum. 
     It also has been discovered that the third or cathode electrode should not be positioned directly above the inverted V formed by the first and second electrodes, but should be offset from the plane formed by the intersecting axes of the first and second electrodes, and typically positioned so that there occurs a bending of the plasma jet, and preferably, a bending of the plasma arc in a general perpendicular direction from the plane of the intersecting axes. It has been found that, if the third electrode is directly aligned in the axes plane, there are problems of contamination, while, with an offset position and a bending of the plasma jet, good stabilization without contamination is obtained. 
     A variety of DC power sources may be employed as the power source for the jet device; however, in the preferred embodiment, two power sources are employed as a power supply with a common cathode. The power supplies are common with the cathode electrode with respect to the cathode secured to the respective power supply. Typically, the cathode electrode remains as a tungsten or metal electrode, since it carries a very high amperage. 
     The invention will be described in connection with its preferred embodiments; however, it is recognized that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment as described by those people skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The drawing shows a schematic representative view of a plasma jet device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The plasma jet device 10 comprises support block means 12, 14 and 16 for the electrodes, and includes first and second anode electrodes 20 and 22 of graphite or tungsten which, if their axes are extended, intersect at an angle; for example, 75 degrees, and a third cathode electrode 18 of tungsten. The electrodes 18, 20 and 22 are positioned, respectively, in ceramic coaxial sleeve elements 24, 26 and 28 in the support means 12, 14 and 16. An ionizable gas such as argon is introduced into one end of each of the ceramic sleeve elements and flows about the electrodes in the respective sleeves to form in operation the plasma jet. There are means (not shown) to provide for the axial movement of the electrodes within the ceramic sleeves, so that the electrodes may be extended and withdrawn as desired and then secured in a desired fixed position in operation. 
     Directly below the intersecting axes of the electrodes 20 and 22 is a nebulizer or aerosol sample introduction means of comprising a nebulizer 30 having an outlet 32, whereby a sample material 34 is placed in aerosol form in a gas stream; for example, in an ionizable gas stream, and introduced through the outlet 32 directly into the excitation region 38 of the plasma jet formed. The plasma jet 36 as illustrated, is in the form of an inverted Y. The device includes two constant current DC power supplies, 40 and 46, common electrical leads going to the cathode electrode 18 and with leads from power supply 40 to the anode 22 and from power supply 46 to the anode 20. The arrows above the outlet 32 of the nebulizer 30 schematically illustrate the flow path of the sample material being introduced into the excitation region 38. 
     In operation, a laminar flow of an ionized gas is maintained around the electrodes 18, 20 and 22, while a sample material 34 is introduced as a laminar flow of an aerosol in an argon carrier through nebulizer 30 and the outlet 32 directly into the excitation zone 38 formed in the plasma jet 36. The plasma jet formed will follow the flow of the ionized gas from the sleeve elements 26 and 28 of the anodes 20 and 22, due to the magnetic attraction produced by current flowing in the same direction from each anode electrode. The excitation region, as illustrated, is between and just below the point where the two plasma columns of ionized argon from the anode electrodes combine at that point of intersection. 
     The ionized plasma jet is initiated by extending the cathode electrode 18 and the anode electrodes 20 and 22 outside of their respective ceramic sleeves, so that the cathode 18 and one anode electrode 20 or 22 come into contact, while the other anode electrode 20 or 22 is in close vicinity, but not in a touching relationship. As the cathode electrode 18 is withdrawn after contact, with the electrodes connected to a power supply as illustrated, and the argon gas flowing, a plasma jet is formed by the ionized argon gas, allowing the second anode also to be placed in a conducting relationship. Finally, the three electrodes are withdrawn as desired to their operating positions with their ends slightly inside the separate ceramic sleeve elements 24, 26 and 28.