In a particulate detection system (10), a control board (911), a high voltage generation board (913) and an isolation transformer (720) are respectively disposed in a first space (921d) and a second space (921e) separated from each other by an inner case (923). When electromagnetic noise is generated in the high voltage generation board (913) and the isolation transformer (720); specifically, at the primary winding of the isolation transformer 720, at the time of switching the primary current supply, the electromagnetic noise is blocked by the inner case (923). This configuration reduces the influence of electromagnetic noise generated in the primary winding on the control board (911).

In a particulate detection system (10), a control board (911), a high voltage generation board (913) and an isolation transformer (720) are respectively disposed in a first space (921d) and a second space (921e) separated from each other by an inner case (923). When electromagnetic noise is generated in the high voltage generation board (913) and the isolation transformer (720); specifically, at the primary winding of the isolation transformer 720, at the time of switching the primary current supply, the electromagnetic noise is blocked by the inner case (923). This configuration reduces the influence of electromagnetic noise generated in the primary winding on the control board (911).

A particulate sensor can reduce the amount of floating ions discharged from the interior of a gas introduction pipe to the outside through a gas discharge opening, without providing an auxiliary electrode member which applies to the floating ions a repulsive force toward the gas introduction pipe to thereby assist the collection of the floating ions by the gas introduction pipe. The particulate sensor has an collection member which is connected to a gas introduction pipe to thereby be maintained at a collection potential and is disposed in the interior of the gas introduction pipe to be located between a forward end of the discharge electrode member and a gas discharge opening such that the forward end of the discharge electrode member cannot be visually recognized from the outside of the gas introduction pipe through the gas discharge opening.

A particulate sensor can reduce the amount of floating ions discharged from the interior of a gas introduction pipe to the outside through a gas discharge opening, without providing an auxiliary electrode member which applies to the floating ions a repulsive force toward the gas introduction pipe to thereby assist the collection of the floating ions by the gas introduction pipe. The particulate sensor has an collection member which is connected to a gas introduction pipe to thereby be maintained at a collection potential and is disposed in the interior of the gas introduction pipe to be located between a forward end of the discharge electrode member and a gas discharge opening such that the forward end of the discharge electrode member cannot be visually recognized from the outside of the gas introduction pipe through the gas discharge opening.

A low-OH-content quartz glass with an OH content equal to or lower than 5 ppm is used as a cylindrical tube (2) covering the surface of metallic plasma generation electrodes (4, 5 and 6) for generating a low-frequency barrier discharge. It has been found that, in the low-frequency barrier discharge, hydrogen and oxygen originating from the OH contained in a dielectric material are released into plasma gas for a long period of time, constituting a primary cause of an increase in the baseline current. The use of a low-OH-content quartz glass dramatically lowers the baseline current and thereby improves the S/N ratio and the detection limit.

A low-OH-content quartz glass with an OH content equal to or lower than 5 ppm is used as a cylindrical tube (2) covering the surface of metallic plasma generation electrodes (4, 5 and 6) for generating a low-frequency barrier discharge. It has been found that, in the low-frequency barrier discharge, hydrogen and oxygen originating from the OH contained in a dielectric material are released into plasma gas for a long period of time, constituting a primary cause of an increase in the baseline current. The use of a low-OH-content quartz glass dramatically lowers the baseline current and thereby improves the S/N ratio and the detection limit.

Provided is a discharge ionization current detector that is highly durable and yet can be produced at a low cost. An electrode structure 19 consisting of a dielectric-coated metal tube 16, with an insulator-coated metal wire 18 included therein, is inserted from above into a first gas passage including a dielectric tube 10. The metal tube 16 is connected to the ground on the upstream side of the first gas passage. One end of the metal wire 18 is extracted from the upstream side of the first gas passage to the outside and connected to a bias power source 33. An area which is not covered with the insulator is provided at the other end of the wire 18. This area is arranged in a second gas passage, which extends from the downstream end of the first gas passage. A metal electrode consisting of a flanged metal tube 28 is placed in the second gas passage and connected to an ion current detecting circuit 34. In the present configuration, the second gas passage, which should be heated to high temperatures, has fewer portions at which metallic parts are in contact with insulating members. This is advantageous for improving the durability of the device and reducing the used amount of expensive, highly heat-resistant sealing members and/or insulating members.

Provided is a discharge ionization current detector that is highly durable and yet can be produced at a low cost. An electrode structure 19 consisting of a dielectric-coated metal tube 16, with an insulator-coated metal wire 18 included therein, is inserted from above into a first gas passage including a dielectric tube 10. The metal tube 16 is connected to the ground on the upstream side of the first gas passage. One end of the metal wire 18 is extracted from the upstream side of the first gas passage to the outside and connected to a bias power source 33. An area which is not covered with the insulator is provided at the other end of the wire 18. This area is arranged in a second gas passage, which extends from the downstream end of the first gas passage. A metal electrode consisting of a flanged metal tube 28 is placed in the second gas passage and connected to an ion current detecting circuit 34. In the present configuration, the second gas passage, which should be heated to high temperatures, has fewer portions at which metallic parts are in contact with insulating members. This is advantageous for improving the durability of the device and reducing the used amount of expensive, highly heat-resistant sealing members and/or insulating members.

An adjusting method for a discharge ionization current detector of the present invention is provided for a discharge ionization current detector for a gas chromatograph, which improves the precision and reproducibility of measurements results of the detector. The discharge ionization current detector adjusts at least one of purity of introduced helium gas, a flow rate of the introduced helium gas, an amplitude of voltage of the low-frequency dielectric barrier discharge, and a frequency of the voltage of the low-frequency dielectric barrier discharge so that intensity of light having a wavelength of 640 nm reaches the maximum in a range of wavelengths of 250 to 700 nm with respect to light emitted by the helium plasma.

An adjusting method for a discharge ionization current detector of the present invention is provided for a discharge ionization current detector for a gas chromatograph, which improves the precision and reproducibility of measurements results of the detector. The discharge ionization current detector adjusts at least one of purity of introduced helium gas, a flow rate of the introduced helium gas, an amplitude of voltage of the low-frequency dielectric barrier discharge, and a frequency of the voltage of the low-frequency dielectric barrier discharge so that intensity of light having a wavelength of 640 nm reaches the maximum in a range of wavelengths of 250 to 700 nm with respect to light emitted by the helium plasma.