The present application relates to pulsed discharge ionization detectors (PDIDs) and non-radioactive ionization sources, including miniaturized forms thereof. In some examples, the PDID includes annular electrodes, where each electrode is disposed between annular insulators. Also provided herein are methods of making and using such PDIDs, such as for detecting one or more volatile organic compounds, as well as non-radioactive ionization sources.

Certain configurations of ionization sources are described. In some examples, an ionization source comprises an ionization block, an electron source, an electron collector, an ion repeller and at least one electrode configured to provide an electric field when a voltage is provided to the at least one electrode. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

A particle counter includes a ceramic-made vent pipe, electric charge generating elements that generate electric charges by gaseous discharge, an electric field generating electrode, a collecting electrode, an electric field generating electrode and a removing electrode. Ground electrodes included in the electric charge generating elements are embedded in the vent pipe. Discharge electrodes included in the electric charge generating elements, the electric field generating electrodes for collection and removal, the collecting electrode, and the removing electrode are disposed along the inner wall surface of the vent pipe. The electric charge generating elements are disposed along the inner wall surface of the vent pipe.

A device, including a non-radioactive detection source, configured to detect airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment by applying a voltage bias to the non-radioactive detection source to create at least one detecting condition, and determining if airborne particulates are present within the at least one detection condition. A method of creating a detecting condition for airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment, the method including the steps of coupling a pair of electrical conductors to a nanocellular material, and applying a voltage bias to the pair of electrical conductors.

A device, including a non-radioactive detection source, configured to detect airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment by applying a voltage bias to the non-radioactive detection source to create at least one detecting condition, and determining if airborne particulates are present within the at least one detection condition. A method of creating a detecting condition for airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment, the method including the steps of coupling a pair of electrical conductors to a nanocellular material, and applying a voltage bias to the pair of electrical conductors.

A dielectric barrier discharge ionization detector Includes: a dielectric tube; a high-voltage electrode connected to an AC power source and circumferentially formed on the outer wall of the dielectric tube; upstream-side and downstream-side ground electrodes and circumferentially formed above and below the high-voltage electrode; a discharging section for generating electric discharge to create plasma, from a gas containing argon; and a charge-collecting section for ionizing sample-gas components by the plasma and detecting an ion current formed by the ionized components. The detector also satisfies one or both of the following conditions: the upstream-side ground electrode is longer than a creeping discharge initiation distance between a tube-line tip member at the upper end of the dielectric tube and the high-voltage electrode; or the downstream-side ground electrode is longer than a creeping discharge initiation distance between the high-voltage electrode and the charge-collecting section.

A dielectric barrier discharge ionization detector Includes: a dielectric tube; a high-voltage electrode connected to an AC power source and circumferentially formed on the outer wall of the dielectric tube; upstream-side and downstream-side ground electrodes and circumferentially formed above and below the high-voltage electrode; a discharging section for generating electric discharge to create plasma, from a gas containing argon; and a charge-collecting section for ionizing sample-gas components by the plasma and detecting an ion current formed by the ionized components. The detector also satisfies one or both of the following conditions: the upstream-side ground electrode is longer than a creeping discharge initiation distance between a tube-line tip member at the upper end of the dielectric tube and the high-voltage electrode; or the downstream-side ground electrode is longer than a creeping discharge initiation distance between the high-voltage electrode and the charge-collecting section.

The dielectric barrier discharge ionization detector includes: a dielectric tube through which a plasma generation gas is passed; a high-voltage electrode formed on the outer wall of the dielectric tube; two ground electrodes and formed on the outer wall of the dielectric tube, with the high-voltage electrode in between; a voltage supplier for applying AC voltage between the high-voltage electrode and each ground electrode to generate electric discharge within the dielectric tube and thereby generate plasma from the plasma generation gas; and a charge-collecting section for detecting an ion current formed by ionized sample-component gas produced by the plasma. The distance between one ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode is longer than a discharge initiation distance between these two electrodes, while the distance between the other ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode is shorter than the discharge initiation distance between these two electrodes.

The dielectric barrier discharge ionization detector includes: a dielectric tube through which a plasma generation gas is passed; a high-voltage electrode formed on the outer wall of the dielectric tube; two ground electrodes and formed on the outer wall of the dielectric tube, with the high-voltage electrode in between; a voltage supplier for applying AC voltage between the high-voltage electrode and each ground electrode to generate electric discharge within the dielectric tube and thereby generate plasma from the plasma generation gas; and a charge-collecting section for detecting an ion current formed by ionized sample-component gas produced by the plasma. The distance between one ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode is longer than a discharge initiation distance between these two electrodes, while the distance between the other ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode is shorter than the discharge initiation distance between these two electrodes.

A particulate measurement apparatus comprises a control section, which provisionally determines in an anomaly determination process that a corona core wire is in a short anomaly state when a linear voltage is equal to or lower than a particular voltage value and increments a sensor anomaly counter CNS or a chassis anomaly counter. The control section determines that the corona core wire is in a short anomaly state when the count value of one of the anomaly counters is equal to or greater than a determination threshold.