Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission
spectrometry (ICP-AES)
Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry
(ICP-AES) is similar to AAS in that it usually requires a sample to
be removed from an object, and it has similar analytical
capabilities. It differs, however, in that the excitation source is
an argon plasma, heated to around 10,000 degrees Celcius, rather
than a flame, and it is the light emitted by a sample that is
measured, rather than light which is absorbed. The main advantage
of ICP-AES is its speed of operation - it can accurately measure 30
or 40 elements in a matter of minutes.
Further Reading
Hook, D.R., 'Inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission
spectrometry and its role in numismatic studies', Ed's W.A.Oddy and
M.R. Cowell, Metallurgy in Numismatics, vol. 4, Royal
Numismatic Society, (London, 1998), pp. 237-252