Micro discharge devices, methods, and systems

A method, comprising:

• receiving a gas through one of:
• a first open end of a channel through at least a portion of a non-conductive material;
• and
• a second open end of the channel, wherein the channel passes between a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes is separated from the channel by a particular thickness of the non-conductive material;
• applying a voltage across a discharge region of the channel using the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• receiving an optical emission from the discharge region with an optical emission collector separated from the discharge region by a discharge shielding component.

A system, comprising:

• a micro discharge component, wherein the micro discharge component includes:
• a non-conductive material;
• a channel through at least a portion of the non-conductive material to receive a gas therethrough, having a first open end and a second open end;
• a first electrode separated from a first circumferential position of the channel by a particular thickness of the non-conductive material between the first open end and the second open end;
• a second electrode separated from a second circumferential position of the channel by a particular thickness of the non-conductive material between the first open end and the second open end;
• a discharge region defined by a portion of the channel between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• an optical emission collector positioned to receive an optical emission from the discharge region;
• and
• a discharge shielding component between the discharge region from the optical emission collector;
• a receiver configured to receive the optical emission from the optical emission collector and convert the optical emission into an electric signal;
• and
• a computing device configured to receive the electric signal and determine a composition associated with the gas based on the electric signal.