Ultraviolet laser filaments for remote laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis: applications in cultural heritage monitoring

We report experiments with subpicosecond UV laser filaments for the remote analysis of samples related to objects of cultural heritage. The classic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique finds new avenues through femtosecond filamentation, and dynamic remote LIBS becomes possible. Advantages such as self-regulated laser intensity deposition on the target suggest that there is significant potential for using UV femtosecond filaments for the remote analysis of sculpture and large monuments.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: technique,new features,and detection limits of trace elements in Al base alloy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has proven to be extremely versatile, providing multielement analysis in real time without sample preparation. The principle is based on the ablation of a small amount of target material by interaction of a strong laser beam with a solid target. The laser must have sufficient energy to excite atoms and to ionize them to produce plasma. We aimed to improve the LIBS limit of detection (LOD) and the precision of spectral lines emitted from the produced plasma by optimizing the parameters affecting the LIBS technique. LIBS LOD is affected by many experimental parameters such as interferences, self-absorption, spectral overlap, signal-to-noise ratio, and matrix effects. The plasma in the present study is generated by focusing a 6-ns pulsed Nd–YAG laser at the fundamental wavelength of 1,064 nm onto the Al target in air at atmospheric pressure. The emission spectra are recorded using an SE 200 Echelle spectrometer manufactured by the Catalina Corporation; it is equipped with an ICCD camera type Andor model iStar DH734-18. This spectrometer allows time-resolved spectral acquisition over the whole UV-NIR (200–1,000 nm) spectral range. Calibration curves for Cu, Mg, Mn, Si, Cr, and Fe were obtained with linear regression coefficients around 99 % on the average in aluminum standard alloy samples. The determined LOD has very useful improvements for Cu I at 521.85 nm, Si I at 288.15 nm, Mn I at 482.34 nm, and Cr I at 520.84 nm spectral lines. LOD is improved by 83.8 % for Cu, 49 % for Si, 84.3 % for Mn, and 45 % for Cr lower with respect to the previous works.     

飞秒激光成丝诱导Cu等离子体的温度和电子密度

研究了飞秒激光成丝诱导铜击穿光谱,利用光发射光谱对产生的铜等离子体光谱强度沿着丝长度进行了测量,获得了在不同样品与聚焦透镜间距离的Cu(I)的强度分布.结果显示,由于强度钳箍效应成丝诱导的光谱在较大的透镜样品间距离范围内有较强的辐射强度.另外,利用玻尔兹曼图和斯塔克展宽计算了整个成丝繁衍距离中Cu等离子体温度和电子密度.     

Double pulse UV laser induced breakdown spectroscopy of stainless steel

Results of experimental investigations of 304 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) ultraviolet spectral range by single and double pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) at atmospheric pressure are reported. Various parameters, such as laser energy, placement of the laser beam focus with respect to the surface of illumi-nation, and collinear double laser pulse delay were used as variables. This study contributes to a better under-standing of the LIBS plasma dynamics by observing the temporal evolution of various emission lines. Temperature measurements were made by the Boltzmann diagram method using singly ionized Fe lines, and electron densities were found from Stark broadening. The temporal behaviors of these parameters were also estimated. It was found that the electron temperature for double pulses is higher than that for single pulse of the same total energy. For double pulse LIBS, the iron line emission intensities are enhanced and the analytical performance is improved. For instance, the intensity of iron line Fe I 275.01 nm was a factor of about 300 times higher if a double pulse of 2 × 20 mJ was used instead of a single pulse of 40 mJ when focusing the beam 4.7 mm behind the target surface. Published in Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 79, No. 5, pp. 654–660, 2006.     

四光束剪切相干成像目标重构算法研究

针对传统剪切光束成像技术的准实时性问题,提出用口字形排布的四束光代替传统L形三束剪切光照射目标,研究了四光束剪切相干成像目标重构算法.只需单次测量就能同时重构出四幅目标图像,减少了用于降低散斑噪声、获取高质量图像所需的测量次数,同时大大减少了多组发射时的光束切换次数,提高了成像效率.在算法实现中,通过最小二乘法恢复出四组波前相位,利用散斑幅值的简单代数运算恢复波前幅值,从而重构出目标图像.仿真结果表明,与传统方法相比,在图像质量相同的前提下,本文方法所需的数据采集时间减少了至少1/2,不但提高了目标重构效率,还可为远程运动目标的成像识别提供更好的手段.     

Titanium plasma spectroscopy studies under double pulse laser excitation

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied for parametric studies of titanium (Ti) plasma using single and double pulsed laser excitation scheme. Here a pulsed Nd:YAG laser was employed for generation of laser produced plasma from solid Ti target at ambient pressure. Several ionized titanium lines were recorded in the 312–334 nm UV region. The temporal evolution of plasma parameters such as excitation temperature and electron number density was evaluated. The effect of incident laser irradiance, position of the laser beam focal point with respect to the surface of illumination, single and double laser pulse effect on plasma parameters were also investigated. This study contributes to a better understanding of the LIBS plasma dynamics of the double laser pulse effect on the temporal evolution of various Ti emission lines, the detection sensitivity and the optimal dynamics of plasma for ionized states of Ti. The results demonstrate a faster decay of the continuum and spectral lines and a shorter plasma life time for the double pulse excitation scheme as compared with single laser pulse excitation. For double pulse excitation technique, the emissions of Ti lines intensities are enhanced by a factor of five which could help in the improvement of analytical performance of LIBS technique. In addition, this study proved that to avoid inhomogeneous effects in the laser produced plasma under high laser intensities, short delay times between the incident laser pulse and ICCD gate are required.     

自动聚焦激光诱导击穿光谱远程测量系统

激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术具有非接触测量、无需样品预处理以及快速多元素同时分析等特点,适合于高温、高压、真空、有毒以及敌对环境等仪器和操作人员无法靠近观测对象的应用中。LIBS技术结合望远镜系统可以实现物质成分的远距离检测与分析。搭建了一套可自动聚焦的LIBS远程测量系统。该系统中的望远镜采用Schwarzschild结构,由一块凹球面反射镜和一块凸球面反射镜组成。两块球面反射镜共轴安装。其中凸面反射镜安装在电控精密平移台上,电动平移台可带动凸面反射镜沿光轴移动。通过调整凸面反射镜的位置,改变凸面反射镜和凹面反射镜的间距,进而改变系统的焦距,实现对不同距离的样品进行光谱测量。该结构的优点在于：激光聚焦光路与信号光采集光路相同,便于安装和调试;望远镜系统采用全反射式光路,适用于紫外波段检测;只包括两个球面反射镜,结构紧凑,元件容易加工。望远镜系统调焦距离为1.5～3.6 m,聚焦光斑直径约为0.5~1.0 mm。使用该系统对铜样品进行了LIBS实验,确认了Cu元素的特征谱线。通过测量Cu元素的LIBS特征谱线(Cu Ⅰ 223.01 nm, Cu Ⅰ 224.43 nm)峰面积和反射镜间距之间关系,得到了激光的最优聚焦位置。实验结果表明,该系统能够完成样品的远程激发和LIBS光谱测量,并能够对不同距离的样品进行自动聚焦。     

A time-resolved imaging study of Cr (I) emissions from a laserplasma formed on a sample at nonnormal incidence

The effect of sample orientation on atomic emission in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was studied using time-resolved imaging and spectroscopy. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of sampling geometry on the analytical performance of the LIBS measurement. The results obtained indicate that atoms are ejected perpendicular to the sample surface independent of the angle-of-incidence of the laser pulse. This result is consistent with previous work by others. In addition, it was found that the observed LIBS atomic emission intensities were maximum for normal laser pulse incidence, reached a minimum at 50° angle-of-incidence, and then increased as the sample was rotated to higher angles-of-incidence     

远程激光诱导击穿光谱技术进展

远程激光诱导击穿光谱技术(Remote LIBS)是一种利用高能激光和聚焦手段实现远距离分析物质元素组成的光谱探测技术,是远程探测的一种重要手段。本文对远程LIBS的三种探测方式(开放路径式、光纤光路式和便携式探针式)及相应的系统结构做了总结和分析。传统的开放路径式对激光器、光学系统和检测系统的性能和规格要求严格,一直是远程LIBS的研究热点;光纤光路LIBS优点主要体现在系统光学聚焦结构的简化和等离子体光的有效接收。本文综述了远程LIBS新技术的研究进展,着重分析了飞秒成丝远程LIBS技术及与Raman光谱探测相结合等远程LIBS新技术的特点和优势。新技术大大提高了探测距离,增强了物质识别能力,为扩大远程LIBS的应用做出巨大的贡献。同时,论文详细介绍了远程LIBS技术在深空探测、危害物质检测、工业冶金、文物检测修复等领域的研究现状和应用新进展。远程LIBS技术随着激光技术和光谱检测技术的发展以及对LIBS定标反演的研究,探测距离和应用范围不断扩大,检测精度和准确度也在提升。     

强激光远场光束质量参数的测试

 提出漫射红外成像-多点标校测量方法,用于测量强激光远场光束质量参数。在激光远场距离处设置漫反射靶板,用成像探测器摄取经靶面漫射的脉冲强激光光斑图像;在靶面中心处挖小孔,孔后放置能量探测器实时测量激光脉宽和峰值功率。同时对整个激光光斑图像进行能量定标,进而得出远场脉冲强激光的实际空间能量/功率分布、总能量,以及相应的光束质量参数。应用该测量方法,对高能TEA CO₂激光进行测量研究,测得其远场光束截面半径为80.2 mm,发散角为1.55 mrad。     

Improved LIBS limit of detection of Be, Mg, Si, Mn, Fe and Cu in aluminum alloy samples using a portable Echelle spectrometer with ICCD camera

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a laser-based technique that can provide non-intrusive, qualitative and quantitative measurement of metals in various environments. LIBS uses the plasma generated by a high-energy laser beam to prepare and excite the sample in one step. In the present work, LIBS has been applied to perform elemental analysis of six trace elements simultaneously in aluminum alloy targets. The plasma is generated by focusing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser on the target in air at atmospheric pressure. LIBS limit of detection (LOD) is affected by many experimental parameters such as interferences, self-absorption, spectral overlap and matrix effect. We aimed to improve the LIBS LOD by optimizing these experimental parameters as possible. In doing so, a portable Echelle spectrometer with intensified CCD camera was used to detect the LIBS plasma emission. This advanced Echelle spectrometer provides a constant spectral resolution (CSR) of 7500 corresponding to 4 pixels FWHM over a wavelength range 200–1000 nm displayable in a single spectrum. Then, the calibration curves for iron, beryllium, magnesium, silicon, manganese and copper as minor elements were achieved with linear regression coefficients between 98–99% on average in aluminum standard sample alloys. New LOD values were achieved in the ppm range with high precision (RSD 3–8%). From the application view point, improving LIBS LOD is very important in the on-line industrial process control to follow-up multi-elements for the correct alloying in metals.     

Laser Accelerated, High Quality Ion Beams

Intense beams of protons and heavy ions have been observed in ultra-intense laser-solid interaction experiments. Thereby, a considerable fraction of the laser energy is transferred to collimated beams of energetic ions (e.g. up to 50 MeV protons; 100 MeV fluorine), which makes these beams highly interesting for various applications. Experimental results indicate very short pulse duration and an excellent beam quality, leading to beam intensities in the TW range. To characterize the beam quality and its dependence on laser parameters and target conditions, we performed experiments at several high-power laser systems. We found a strong dependence on the target rear surface conditions allowing to tailor the ion beam by an appropriate target design. We also succeeded in the generation of heavy ion beams by suppressing the proton amount at the target surface. We will present recent experimental results demonstrating a transverse beam emittance far superior to accelerator-based ion beams. Finally, we will discuss the prospect of laser-accelerated ion beams as new diagnostics in laser-solid interaction experiements. Special fields of interest are proton radiography, electric field imaging, and relativistic electron transport inside the target.     

High resolution scanning microanalysis on material surfaces using UV femtosecond laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Femtosecond lasers together with high resolution optics have given us the ability to achieve submicron ablation spots which can play an important role in specific micromachining applications. Light emitted from the plasma at the sample surface created by a focused femtosecond laser pulse can also be used in laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and allows us to characterize the chemical composition of the target surface with micron-level lateral resolution. The spatial resolution using LIBS has often been defined by measuring the FWHM of the crater size. In this report, we study the application of femtosecond 266 nm laser pulses with very low energies of 10׳s of nanojoules. We have investigated spatial resolution using the detection of thin strips of chromium on silicon substrates and compared the actual width of the chromium versus the experimentally obtained width using LIBS detection. The variation of signal levels for low pulse energies is investigated on chromium surfaces. A spatial resolution of ~1 μm was obtained for detection of chromium from the emission.     

The importance of longer wavelength reheating in dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) provides improved sensitivity compared to conventional single-pulse LIBS. We used a combination of Nd: yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) and CO₂ lasers to improve the sensitivity of LIBS. Significant emission intensity enhancement is noticed for both excited neutral lines and ionic lines for dual-pulse LIBS compared to single-pulse LIBS. However, the enhancement factor is found to be dependend on the energy levels of the lines, and resonance lines provided maximum enhancement. Our results indicate that IR reheating will cause significant improvement in sensitivity, regardless of the conditions, even with an unfocused reheating beam. The improved sensitivity with a YAG-CO₂ laser combination is caused by the effective reheating of the pre-plume with a longer wavelength laser is due to efficient inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption. The role of the spot sizes, inter-pulse delay times, energies of the preheating and reheating pulses on the LIBS sensitivity improvements are discussed.     

Laser Remote Sensing

LIDAR is the first generation of laser remote sensing developed for detection of gas molecule in atmosphere. LIDAR is the abbreviated word for laser radar (laser light detection and ranging). It combines advantages of lasers ability to detect atoms and molecules and radars ability for remote sensing. The advance of technologies: tunable solid state laser (Ti sapphire, OPO etc), optical fiber, photonics imaging technique and last but not least computational techniques, have promoted the development of new...     

不同能量水下激光诱导等离子体的轴向辐射分布特性研究

激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术作为一项新兴的水下原位探测技术,备受海洋探测技术领域的关注。将这项技术推向实用化的关键之一是改善LIBS的远程探测能力,因此需要采用超击穿阈值的高能量探测激光。为观察超击穿阈值情况下的等离子体辐射和动态击穿特性,采用图像与光谱相结合的方法,以KCl溶液为样品进行了系列实验研究。通过对1～20 mJ不同能量激发下的等离子体图像分析,获得了不同激发条件下总辐射的轴向跨度和最亮点位置信息。随激光脉冲能量增大,等离子体长度增加,从1 mJ时的0.49 mm增加到20 mJ时的1.83 mm,同时辐射最亮点位置向激光入射方向移动了0.79 mm。结合光谱探测分析,得出等离子体特征辐射的轴向空间分布也对激光能量有明显的依赖性。虽然不同能量下谱线强度呈相似的轴向空间分布,但钾原子辐射最强处的位置和相应强度均随能量变化,在5 mJ激发下获得最佳辐射强度。实验结果表明,为满足远程LIBS应用需求,提高激光能量时应考虑其对原子辐射的影响。还对不同能量下的谱线的半高宽和信背比进行了观测分析。     

激光光束实时监测与自动准直系统设计

设计了一个激光光斑实时监测与光路自动准直装置,能够实时监测激光光斑并自动准商激光输出方向.基于透镜成像原理,使用CCD探测器获得光斑的二维成像,并根据两点确定一条直线原理和使用压电陶瓷电动调整架实现光路自动准直;监测控制程序采用虚拟仪器开发软件Lab View编写,可以实时监测激光光斑模式与光斑位置抖动情况,并进行反馈控制.经测试,设计装置的调整精度达0.5μrad,反馈控制频率约1 Hz,完全可降低或消除抖动周期在1 s以上的光斑飘移.     

Lidar measurement of constituents of microparticles in air by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy using femtosecond terawatt laser pulses

We experimentally demonstrated remote sensing of the constituents of microparticles in air by combining laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and lidar, using femtosecond terawatt laser pulses. Laser pulses of 70 fs duration and 130 mJ energy generated filaments when focused at a focal length of 20 m and the pulses irradiated artificial saltwater aerosols in air at a 10 Hz pulse repetition rate. Na fluorescence was observed remotely at a distance of 16 m using a 318 mm diameter Newtonian telescope, a spectrometer, and an intensified CCD camera. These results show the possibility of remote measurement of the constituents of atmospheric particles, such as aerosols, clouds, and toxic materials, by LIBS-lidar using femtosecond terawatt laser pulses.     

无机爆炸物及其主要成分的激光诱导击穿光谱实验研究

以一种常见的无机爆炸物——黑火药及其主要成分硝酸钾作为研究对象,硝酸钠样品作为参照物,使用1 064nm调Q激光器作为光源,进行实验研究。获得了不同环境气体(空气和氩气)中三种样品的击穿诱导等离子体光谱,在不同延迟条件下获得了三种样品的时间分辨谱,并分析了三种样品的O/N谱线强度比值随延时的变化,得出在延时596ns时,O/N比值达到最大值。     

多次放电的激光诱导击穿光谱信号增强

激光诱导击穿光谱技术(LIBS)是一种广泛应用于科学和工程方面的元素分析技术。LIBS测量一些微量元素时存在探测极限高的不足,因此增强LIBS信号强度,降低元素探测极限,对扩展其应用范围有着重要的意义。为了实现LIBS光谱信号的增强,提出多次放电增强激光诱导击穿光谱方法,并以固体铝合金材料为例进行了光谱信号强度增强的研究。实验发现,激光作用在铝合金材料上烧蚀样品产生等离子体并溅射到样品上方高压放电电极所在区域,该区域在等离子体产生之后50 μs之内均可以诱导高压电极放电。因此采用高频脉冲电源可以实现一次LIBS产生的等离子体诱导电极多次放电。多次放电会对等离子体进行多次激发,同时多次放电对等离子的加热作用会延缓等离子体冷却速率从而延长等离子体的持续时间,两者共同作用可以增强LIBS光谱信号强度,进而降低LIBS对微量元素的探测极限。使用频率为100 kHz的高频直流脉冲电源,利用数字延迟脉冲发生器同步激光与高压电源,在激光过后3.6 μs触发高压放电,一次LIBS产生的等离子体可以诱导电极5次放电,即对等离子体进行5次激发和加热。利用光谱仪对5次放电等离子体光谱进行积分测量。实验结果表明：使用多次放电增强之后,等离子体持续时间得到大幅延长,光谱信号强度得到大幅增强,其中,Mg Ⅱ (~279 nm)的信号强度可以增强约48倍,Al Ⅱ (~358 nm)的信号强度可以增强约72倍,微量元素Mn Ⅰ (~403 nm)的信号强度增强约6.3倍,微量元素Cu Ⅰ (~403 nm) 的信号强度增强约8.3倍。Mn Ⅰ (~403 nm)和Cu Ⅰ (~403 nm) 的探测极限分别降低为LIBS单次放电的1/6和1/8。多次放电增强激光诱导击穿光谱方法很好地增强了LIBS的光谱信号强度,降低了对微量元素的探测极限,扩展了LIBS技术的应用范围。该方法有潜力应用到贵重物品、稀有材料及文物的鉴定之中。