Inductively coupled plasma (ICP)

An argon discharge sustained at 6000 to 10000 K by an RF coil at 27.12 MHz wrapped around a quartz torch. Argon flows at roughly 15 litres per minute, the coil's oscillating field induces eddy currents in seed electrons, and the discharge is self-sustaining. The plasma simultaneously nebulises, atomises and ionises the sample aerosol introduced through the central injector.