S-MAyHEM: A Spectroscopic Microanalytical Hollow Enhanced Magnetron for Explosive Gas Detection

Abstract

This paper reports on S-MAyHEM, a new magnetic microdevice that magnetically confines on-chip microplasmas (small-scale electric discharges) for spectroscopic molecular gas analysis. Micromagnets in an epoxy casing form the shell of an on-chip hollow cathode. Voltage is applied to this structure under vacuum, creating an on-chip discharge, which is found to be an order of magnitude brighter than seen in previously described microplasma devices [ 1]. This device has been shown to detect and discriminate HCl, Alcohol, and ammonia vapors; all three of these ingredients are used to manufacture homemade bombs.