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Femtosecond laser ablation elemental mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Hergenröder Roland,
Samek Ota,
Hommes Vanja
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
mass spectrometry reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1098-2787
pISSN - 0277-7037
DOI - 10.1002/mas.20077
Subject(s) - chemistry , laser , mass spectrometry , laser ablation , ablation , elemental analysis , femtosecond , analytical chemistry (journal) , optics , chromatography , physics , engineering , organic chemistry , aerospace engineering
Laser ablation mass spectrometry (LA‐MS) has always been an interesting method for the elemental analysis of solid samples. Chemical analysis with a laser requires small amounts of material. Depending on the analytical detection system, subpicogram quantities may be sufficient. In addition, a focused laser beam permits the spatial characterization of heterogeneity in solid samples typically with micrometer resolution in terms of lateral and depth dimensions. With the advent of high‐energy, ultra‐short pulse lasers, new possibilities arise. The task of this review is to discuss the principle differences between the ablation process of short (>1 ps) and ultra‐short (<1 ps) pulses. Based on the timescales and the energy balance of the process that underlies an ablation event, it will be shown that ultra‐short pulses are less thermal and cause less collateral damages than longer pulses. The confinement of the pulse energy to the focal region guarantees a better spatial resolution in all dimensions and improves the analytical figures of merit (e.g., fractionation). Applications that demonstrate these features and that will be presented are in‐depth profiling of multi‐layer samples and the elemental analysis of biological materials. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 25:551–572, 2006