Quick Reference Guide

Typical % Gain or EHT Values for hollow cathode lamps

These values are typical results only for a single element lamp, based on the standard operating
conditions for each lamp. They are not guaranteed specifications as such, but have been issued as
a guide to typical performance. Some variation from these figures would be considered "normal".
We hope that this information will be useful in trouble shooting.

SpectrAA
Hollow Cathode 50/55/110/220 Series SpectrAA 880 (Flame)
Element Symbol Lamp (Flame) Instruments Instruments
% Gain EHT Volts
Ag Silver 26 231
Al Aluminium 25 221
As Arsenic 51 284
Au Gold 39 285
B Boron 47 298
Ba Barium 32 235
Be Berylium 48 251
Bi Bismuth 61 376
Ca Calcium 25 225
Cd Cadmium 57 283
Co Cobalt 51 331
Cr Chromium 42 259
Cs Cesium 64 258
Cu Copper 35 255
Dy Dysprosium 49 276
Er Erbium
Eu Europium 39 238
Fe Iron 66 365
Ga Gallium 46 301
Gd Gadolinium 64 334
Ge Germanium 56 317
Hf Hafnium 59 338
Ho Holmium 48 285
Hg Mercury 33 260
In Indium 44
Ir Iridium 55 272
K Potassium 62 279
La Lanthanum 52 293
Li Lithium 24
Mg Magnesium 23 205
Mn Manganese 51 307
Mo Molybdenum 40 279
 SpectrAA
Hollow Cathode 50/55/110/220 Series SpectrAA 880 (Flame)
Element Symbol Lamp (Flame) Instruments Instruments
Os Osmium 53 303
Na Sodium 35 223
Ni Nickel 389
Nb Niobium 56
Nd Neodinium 63 321
Pb Lead 46 296
Pd Palladium 67 377
P Phosphorous 42 281
Pr Praesodinium 67 368
Pt Platinum 49 274
Rb Rubidium 78 316
Re Rhenium 30 237
Rh Rhodium 40 265
Ru Ruthenium 50 295
Sb Antimony 64 382
Sc Scandium
Se Selenium 46 304
Si Silicon 55 316
Sr Strontinum 31 233
Sn Tin 61 373
Ta Tantalum 52 304
Tb Terbium 56
Te Tellurium 65
Ti Titanium 51 227
Tl Thallium
U Uranium 49
V Vanadium 35 248
W Tungsten 61 351
Y Yttrium 41 273
Yb Ytterbium 49 303
Zn Zinc 34 270
Zr Zirconium 48 270

Typical % Gain or EHT Values for hollow cathode lamps page 2 of 3

Notes
• The SpectrAA 55 / 220 FS were fitted with the standard wide range photomultiplier
(type R 446).
• The SpectrAA-880 was fitted with a wide range, high sensitivity photomultiplier
(type R 955).
• Instruments fitted with higher sensitivity photomultipliers will generally achieve
lower gain values than shown above.
• The % gain or EHT (photomultiplier voltages) observed during optimization may
differ from these values for the following reasons:
• A multi-element lamp may be fitted
• A different photomultiplier may be fitted
• Sensitivity of a photomultiplier can vary
• Sample compartment windows may have deteriorated (e.g. from dust build up)
reducing light throughput and increasing % gain (EHT) values
• Some accessories, which clip the optical beam and reduce light throughput, may
be installed e.g. graphite furnace, vapor generation absorption cell
• Older lamps will show higher values, as the emission intensity is reduced as the
lamp ages
• The optical parameters selected are no longer the default values e.g. switching to
a less intense wavelength will change the value
• Zeeman series instruments have a different optical configuration, and use
different optical parameters which may alter the value

Typical % Gain or EHT Values for hollow cathode lamps page 3 of 3