Automated instrument for qualitative analysis of photographically recorded spectra

An advanced technique has been developed for the identification of element spectral lines in photographically recorded emission spectra. It is based on measurement of the relative position of a line on the photoplate and calculation of the wavelength using an equation derived from measured positions of known spectral lines. With this technique, the wavelength of any line can be determined to within 0.04 Angstrom over a 1000 Angstrom region. The elements are identified by comparing the calculated wavelengths with known values in the MIT Wavelength Tables and verified based on the wavelengths of the most intense spectral lines. The automated instrument can be applied to the analysis of photographically recorded spark source mass spectra. Isotopes can be identified based on their mass-to-charge ratios which are calculated from the measured positions of the lines on the photoplate.