Improvement of the sensitivity for the measurement of copper concentrations in soil by microwave-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

International audienceThis study shows a 23-fold improvement of the sensitivity in the determination of copper in soil samples when using Microwave-Assisted Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (MA-LIBS) compared with our conventional LIBS. This comparison between MA-LIBS and LIBS was performed with identical ablation conditions and detection geometry. The signal enhancement obtained with MA-LIBS allowed for the detection of spectral lines related to concentration values as low as 30 mg kg− 1 for copper and 23.3 mg kg− 1 for silver, which were not detected by LIBS

Nanoparticle manufacture ambient air chemical and physical survey as a tool for accidental and chronic risk assessment

Nowadays, nanotechnology lets foresee many opportunities and benefits for new materials with significantly improved properties as well as revolutionary applications in large industrial flelds. Analysts have estimated that the size of the market was 900 million Euro in 2005 and will be 11 billion Euro in 2010. However, nanomaterial industrial stakeholders are currently encountering potential problems with hazard control in their production plants. Release of nanoparticles in air can lead to violent chemical reactions and even explosions because of their small size and energetic properties, and hence high chemical reactivity. Another major safery concern is the impact of manufacturing nanoparticles on the environment and more specifically on the health of workers and of neighbouring populations. Thus, a key issue consists of controlling the release of nanoparticles with chemical or physical toxicological impacts under the ambient background

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of copper with a 2 mu m thulium fiber laser

We report the first implementation of a 2 mu m thulium fiber laser in a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy system. Emission from plasma on copper samples was analyzed from 200 to 900 nm. The low ablation fluence ( \u3c 100 J.cm(-2)) and 200 ns pulse duration lead to a plasma with neither continuum emission, nor air emission in the near-infrared region

Laser Spectroscopy For Sensing: Fundamentals, Techniques And Applications

Laser spectroscopy is a valuable tool for sensing and chemical analysis. Developments in lasers, detectors and mathematical analytical tools have led to improvements in the sensitivity and selectivity of spectroscopic techniques and extended their fields of application. Laser Spectroscopy for Sensing examines these advances and how laser spectroscopy can be used in a diverse range of industrial, medical, and environmental applications. Part one reviews basic concepts of atomic and molecular processes and presents the fundamentals of laser technology for controlling the spectral and temporal aspects of laser excitation. In addition, it explains the selectivity, sensitivity, and stability of the measurements, the construction of databases, and the automation of data analysis by machine learning. Part two explores laser spectroscopy techniques, including cavity-based absorption spectroscopy and the use of photo-acoustic spectroscopy to acquire absorption spectra of gases and condensed media. These chapters discuss imaging methods using laser-induced fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopies before focusing on light detection and ranging, photothermal spectroscopy and terahertz spectroscopy. Part three covers a variety of applications of these techniques, particularly the detection of chemical, biological, and explosive threats, as well as their use in medicine and forensic science. Finally, the book examines spectroscopic analysis of industrial materials and their applications in nuclear research and industry. The text provides readers with a broad overview of the techniques and applications of laser spectroscopy for sensing. It is of great interest to laser scientists and engineers, as well as professionals using lasers for medical applications, environmental applications, military applications, and material processing. © 2014 Woodhead Publishing Limited All rights reserved

The First Years Of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been developed since the invention of the laser in 1960. The push from analytical companies from the beginning started a huge scientific adventure combining analytical science, plasma physics engineering and commercialization that still is in place fifty years later. This historical review of the first five years of laser based micro spectrochemical analysis introduces the first measurements and systems for laser micro-analysis and its evolution to conventional LIBS. © The Royal Society of Chemistry

Uv-Vis-Nir White Light Lidar Using Polarization-Controlled Laser Filamentation

White-Light LIDAR was performed using a unique polarization-controlled white light source generated by filamentation. The design and performance of this supercontinuum source will be shown as well as its importance for a novel LIDAR approach

Self-Channeling Of Femtosecond Laser Pulses For Rapid And Efficient Standoff Detection Of Energetic Materials

Self-channeling properties of high intensity laser pulses are used to extend spectroscopic methods as LIBS to standoff. This work shows the advantages of using selfchanneled femtosecond pulses in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of polymeric micrometer-size thin films in a standoff configuration at 12 meters. We show the possibility of trace analysis on surfaces and the importance of molecular signal as a signature for carbon-based samples. © 2009 IEEE

Uv-Vis-Nir White Light Lidar Using Polarization-Controlled Laser Filamentation

White-Light LIDAR was performed using a unique polarization-controlled white light source generated by filamentation. The design and performance of this supercontinuum source will be shown as well as its importance for a novel LIDAR approach