Apparatus and method for detection and concentration measurement of trace metals using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the contents of an analysis sample, comprising:
- (a) a pulsed laser energy emitter wherein the pulse length of said laser energy emitter is from about 1 attosecond to about 1000 femtoseconds in duration;
(b) an optical transmission medium for focusing energy from said pulsed laser energy emitter onto said analysis sample, for generating a plasma state in a portion of said analysis sample; and
(c) a detector for measuring spectral characteristics of energy emitted from said analysis sample when exposed to focused energy.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for in situ detection and concentration measurement of trace elements in an analysis sample is disclosed. The invention uses laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) wherein femtosecond pulsed laser energy is employed to produce the plasma. The femtosecond pulsed laser energy is focused on the analysis sample to produce the plasma and the resulting emission is delivered for spectral analysis. Because the method and apparatus of the present invention allow breakdown of the analysis sample without propagation of energy to the sample-air interface, a plasma is produced that consists essentially of sample materials without being contaminated by air plasma formation. Thus, the background emission is reduced and there is no need to wait for the plasma to cool down over time before detecting the spectral lines of the sample. Because there is no need to wait for cooling before spectral measurement, lower detection limits are possible. Furthermore, concentration measurement accuracy is improved using intensity rationing techniques since a calibration curve produced using the method and apparatus of the present invention is substantially more linear than those using the conventional nanosecond pulsed LIBS.
159 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the contents of an analysis sample, comprising:
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(a) a pulsed laser energy emitter wherein the pulse length of said laser energy emitter is from about 1 attosecond to about 1000 femtoseconds in duration; (b) an optical transmission medium for focusing energy from said pulsed laser energy emitter onto said analysis sample, for generating a plasma state in a portion of said analysis sample; and (c) a detector for measuring spectral characteristics of energy emitted from said analysis sample when exposed to focused energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for measuring the content of an analysis sample comprising the steps of:
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(a) emitting laser pulses from a pulsed laser energy emitter wherein the pulse length of said laser energy emitter is from about 1 attosecond to about 1000 femtoseconds in duration; (b) focusing energy from said pulsed laser energy emitter on said analysis sample, thereby generating a plasma state in a portion of said analysis sample; (c) measuring spectral characteristics of energy emitted from said analysis sample when exposed to focused energy; and (d) detecting elements in said analysis sample by the presence of narrow spectral line characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification