Glow Discharge Spectrometer (GD AES)

Glow discharge spectrometers use a low-pressure process to sputter material from the surface of a sample using a gas such as argon. The atoms in this sputtered material emit a light that can be analyzed using spectrometry techniques. This type of analysis is beneficial for studying a material’s composition without changing the chemistry of the sample being analyzed. This also eliminates the need for lengthy sample preparation steps. Glow discharge spectrometers are especially useful for their ability to perform rapid analyses on films and coatings.