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The nature of vortices in the gas flow in atmospheric pressure ICPs is analyzed based on comparison of a Lorentz force exerted on the plasma and a gas inertia force. The theoretical analysis is supplemented by numerical modeling and experimental data. The theory is applied to explain a fundamental difference between spectroanalytical ICPs (SICPs), which are used as atomic and ionic sources for elemental analysis, and technological ICPs (TICPs) used for plasma processing of powders. It is shown that in the SICPs the pattern of the gas flow is predominantly determined by gas-dynamic effects. In the TICPs the vortices and the flow pattern are in contrast produced by the Lorentz force. The theory is also applied to find practical ways to reduce the effect of vortices in TICPs.

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