Abstract

LIBS is a very powerful technique for spectrochemical analysis, particularly for the detection of metals in vapors, aerosols, liquids, and solids. Much of the pioneering work in LIBS development has occurred at Los Alamos National Laboratory¹. Typically, a short-pulse laser beam is focussed into the sample causing optical breakdown and the plasma light is collected unto a spectrograph and detected by an array detector. This relatively straightforward set-up affords high sensitivity and efficiency in terms of data generation and collection. In traditional LIBS analyses a single laser is used to vaporize and ionize the sample.

© 1996 Optical Society of America