Laser plasma spectrochemistry

Abstract

An overview of laser plasma spectrochemistry is presented to demonstrate its wide range of capabilities. Laser plasmas offer the ability to perform elemental, isotopic, molecular, quantitative and qualitative sample analysis with sub-micron spatial resolution, and each feature can be measured at standoff distances. Obviously, these attributes are not all achievable at the same time, but they can be optimized for specific applications. This manuscript gives a sampling (pun intended) of the research in our group that has demonstrated each of these capabilities. Although the technology is commonly referred to as LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy), the authors prefer to use laser plasma spectrometry to represent the underlying science.