Method PLES [Blagoev A.B., Kolokolov, N.B., Kudryavtsev. Physica Scripta, 1994, v.50, p.371] is based on identification of atoms and molecules of impurities M by selective registration of groups of fast electrons e(f) created in Penning ionization: He(m) + M → He +M+ + e(f). The electron energy spectrum e(f) contains discrete peaks corresponding to the difference between the energy 19.8 eV of metastable helium atoms He(m) and the ionization energies Ei of impurities M. Since the ionization potential \textit{Ei} of each type of atom or molecule is a well-known, it is possible to identify the atoms or molecules M of the unknown impurity by their ionization potential \textit{Ei.} Probe registration of the energy spectra of penning electrons is carried out in the nonlocal afterglow plasma of pulsed microdischarge in helium and its mixtures with argon, krypton and air. In helium, the non-local plasma condition corresponds to p×L
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)378-379
JournalBulletin of the American Physical Society
Volume57
Issue number12
StatePublished - 2012

ID: 5403208