Conversion of “Tables of Spectral-Line Intensities” for NBS copper arc into table for inductively coupled argon plasmas

This paper describes an approach used to convert the Tables of Spectral-Line Intensities for the copper arc explored by Meggers, Corliss and Scribner at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS Tables) into a table appropriate for inductively coupled plasmas (ICP). Previous work of this author was extended to determine “definitive” factors for converting the intensities listed in the NBS Tables into ICP sensitivities using the ICP detection limits of more than 800 prominent lines published by Winge, Peterson and Fassel. A computer iteration procedure was devised to find simultaneously the desired conversion factors and the true relative intensity distribution in the background spectrum of the argon ICP explored by Winge et al. This approach proved to be viable and resulted in a complete translation of the tables for the NBS copper arc into a table of ICP sensitivities, which, together with a previously described approach by this author to quantify line coincidences in terms of critical concentration ratios, formed the basis of new Line Coincidence Tables for Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry involving 896 prominent lines of 67 elements. The Appendix of the present work produces a list of these prominent lines arranged according to element and wavelength, along with sensitivities, detection limits, and ratios of the detection limits to the best detection limit of the element. A second list of some 200 supplementary computer predicted prominent lines is also appended.