LASER-ABLATION INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY OF A URANIUM-ZIRCONIUM ALLOY - ABLATION PROPERTIES AND ANALYTICAL BEHAVIOR

The ablation properties and analytical behavior of a uranium-zirconium alloy have been examined using tandem laser ablation/pneumatic nebuli zation sample introduction in conjunction with inductively coupled ato mic emission spectrometry (LA-ICP-AES). An apparent change in composit ion of the laser ablation aerosol (1-15 GW cm(-2) Zr deficient, 40-250 GW cm(-2) Zr rich) is observed. This phenomenon is independent of las er wavelength. After collection and bulk chemical analysis of the abla tion product, this phenomenon is attributed to an atomization interfer ence in the ICP. Two distinct modes of laser ablation have been observ ed which depend upon the wavelength of the ablating laser (visible or near infrared). These two modes result in characteristic ablation crat er types and analyte emission behavior. Ablation yields at 1064 nm are dependent upon laser power density only, whilst yields at 532 nm are dependent upon both laser power density and illumination area. The lat ter is considered to be symptomatic of direct interaction of the laser light with the surface, and the former, of indirect coupling of laser energy, via a micro-plasma, into the surface.