A handheld/portable detector for chemical vapor monitoring includes a housing
and
a discharge chamber that is established therein. The plasma discharge has a relatively
small volume, e.g., in the micro-liter range. A first electrode and a second electrode
are disposed within the discharge chamber and a discharge gap is established therebetween.
A sample gas tube is in fluid communication with the discharge chamber and provides
a sample gas to the discharge chamber. Also, a plasma gas tube is in fluid communication
with the discharge chamber and provides a plasma gas thereto. Accordingly, the
plasma gas can be used to maintain microplasma discharge between the electrodes
and the sample gas can be introduced into the microplasma discharge. A spectrometer
optically connected to the handheld/portable detector is used to measure the radiation
emitted by the sample gas when subjected to the microplasma discharge.
