Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

LIBS is considered one of the most convenient and efficient analytical techniques for trace elemental analysis in gases, liquids, and solids. Due to this it is used in a wide range of applications from planet exploration to forensics.
 

High-Accuracy LIBS with Nanosecond and Picosecond Time Resolution Enabled by Ultrasensitive emICCD Technology

Introduction

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is considered one of the most convenient and efficient analytical techniques for trace elemental analysis in gases, solids, and liquids. Both non-invasive and non-destructive, LIBS requires little-to-no sample preparation and can easily be performed either in the lab or in the field in hazardous industrial environments in real-time. Remote measurements can be done from more than 50 meters’ distance.

During LIBS, typically, but not always, a short laser pulse generated at 1064 nm by an Nd:YAG laser is focused on a sample (see Figure 1). Laser energy heats, vaporizes, atomizes, and ionizes target material, generating a small area of plasma. Excited atoms and ions in the plasma emit secondary light that is collected and resolved by a spectrometer and directed to a high-speed, high-sensitivity photodetector. Each chemical element has a unique spectral signature that can be discerned from the obtained spectra. As a result, the multi-elemental composition of the sample can be determined instantly.