Open AccessEnhancing the analytical performance of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Author(s) -
David A. Cremers,
Rosemarie C. Chinni,
A.E. Pichahchy,
Heidi K. Thornquist
Publication year - 1998
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/348872
Subject(s) - laser induced breakdown spectroscopy , microplasma , laser , elemental analysis , spectroscopy , pulse (music) , national laboratory , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , computer science , plasma , engineering physics , optics , physics , chemistry , nuclear physics , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , detector
This is the final report of a one-year, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The objective of this work is to enhance the analytical capabilities of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS is a method of elemental analysis in which powerful laser pulses are focused on a sample to form a microplasma. LIBS is perhaps the most versatile elemental analysis method, applicable to a variety of different real-world analysis problems. Therefore, it is important to enhance the capabilities of the method as much as possible. Accomplishments include: (1) demonstration of signal enhancements of 5--30 times from soils and metals using a double pulse method; (2) development of a model of the observed enhancement obtained using double pulses; (3) demonstration that the analytical performance achievable using low laser-pulse energies (10 and 25 mJ) can match that achievable using an energy of 100 mJ; and (4) demonstration that time-gated detection is not necessary with LIBS