The ICP/FTS as a Source of High Resolution Atomic and Molecular Spectra

In the early days of spectroscopy, arc sources were commonly used to obtain grating spectra of atoms and simple molecules. Since photographic detection was used, the poor stability of the arc was not a problem. Stability is a severe problem for the Fourier transform spectrometer and arcs are generally not suitable. The inductively coupled plasma (ICP), developed as a source for spectrochemical analysis, is similar in excitation to an arc, but is much cleaner and is relatively stable. Efforts have been made to exploit the ICP as a source of energetic spectra for the one meter McMath FTS of the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak.