Sample excitation apparatus for a spectrometric analyzer, the apparatus comprising a sample introduction stage comprising an electrospray nebulizer for generating a nebulized sample; and a sample excitation stage arranged to operate in an atmospheric pressure environment and to receive and excite the nebulized sample in a sample excitation region for spectrometric analysis thereof. ‘Excitation’ includes ionization in ICP and MIP, flame excitation in AES, and optical excitation in AAS. For example, analyte solution (38) is fed out of the outlet end of a capillary (30,40,60,96), to a plasma source. A potential difference is applied between the capillary, its outlet end or the analyte solution and an opposing effective (counter) electrode, which may comprise a tube (64), a grid (80), or the plasma (34) itself, to promote formation of smaller droplets (46). The pressure of the plasma source is similar to the pressure in the region of the capillary outlet end.