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A device for sustaining a plasma in a torch is provided. In certain examples, the device comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch. In some examples, the radial plane of the torch is sub

A device for sustaining a plasma in a torch is provided. In certain examples, the device comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch. In some examples, the radial plane of the torch is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torch.

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What is claimed is: 1. A device for generating a plasma in a torch having a longitudinal axis along which a flow of gas is introduced during operation of the torch and having a radial plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torch, the device comprising a first electrode co

What is claimed is: 1. A device for generating a plasma in a torch having a longitudinal axis along which a flow of gas is introduced during operation of the torch and having a radial plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torch, the device comprising a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the first electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape, the device further comprising a second electrode configured to couple to the power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the second electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape. 2. The device of claim 1, in which each of the first and second electrodes comprises a plate comprising a symmetrical inner cross-section. 3. The device of claim 2, in which the symmetrical inner cross-section is circular. 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer separating the first electrode and the second electrode. 5. The device of claim 1, in which the first electrode is configured to sustain a symmetrical plasma, or a substantially symmetrical plasma, in the torch. 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency source in electrical communication with the first electrode. 7. The device of claim 6, in which the radio frequency source is configured to provide radio frequencies of about 1 MHz to about 1000 MHz at a power of about 10 Watts to about 10,000 Watts. 8. The device of claim 6, further comprising a second radio frequency source in electrical communication with the second electrode. 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency source in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. 10. The device of claim 9, in which the radio frequency source is configured to provide radio frequencies of about 1 MHz to about 1,000 MHz at a power of about 10 Watts to about 10,000 Watts. 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a grounding plate in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. 12. The device of claim 11, in which the first electrode, the second electrode and the grounding plate are configured for use in an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. 13. The device of claim 11, in which the first electrode, the second electrode and the grounding plate are configured for use in an inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometer. 14. The device of claim 11, in which the first electrode, the second electrode and the grounding plate are configured for use in an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. 15. A device comprising a torch body, a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch body, in which the first electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape, the device further comprising a second electrode configured to couple to the power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch body, in which the second electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape. 16. The device of claim 15 further comprising a radio frequency source coupled to the first and second electrodes. 17. The device of claim 15 in which the at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a plate electrode. 18. A method of generating a plasma in a torch having a longitudinal axis and having a radial plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torch, the method comprising: providing a gas flow along the longitudinal axis of the torch; igniting the gas flow in the torch; and providing a loop current along the radial plane to sustain a plasma in the torch using a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide the loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the first electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape, and the second electrode configured to couple to the power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the second electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising configuring the plasma to be a substantially symmetrical plasma. 20. A substantially symmetrical plasma produced by igniting a gas flow in a torch and providing a loop current along a radial plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torch to sustain the substantially symmetrical plasma, wherein the loop current is provided using at least a first electrode and a second electrode, in which each of the first and second electrodes comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape. 21. The substantially symmetrical plasma of claim 20, in which one of the first and second electrodes is a plate electrode. 22. The substantially symmetrical plasma of claim 20, in which both the first and the second electrodes are plate electrodes.