Thermal ionization
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In thermal ionization, also referred to as surface ionization, chemically-purified material loaded onto a filament which is then heated to cause some of the material to be ionized as it boils off the hot filament. Filaments are generally flat pieces of metal around 1-2mm wide, 0.1mm thick, bent into an upside-down U shape and welded to steel posts that supply a current.
Saha-Langmuir equation
The likelihood of ionisation is a function of the filament temperature, the work function of the filament substrate and the ionization energy of the element.
This is summarised in the Saha-Langmuir equation:[1]
= ion to neutral ratio
= statistical weights of ion and neutral states
- φ = surface work function
- IP = element ionization potential
- T = surface temperature
Thermal ionization mass spectrometry
One application of thermal ionization is thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). The ions being produced at the filament are directed into a mass spectrometer to analyze the elements or isotopes present in the sample.[1]
See also
References
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