Laser induced breakdown spectrometry with an echelle spectrometer and intensified charge coupled device detection

The combination of an echelle spectrometer with a time-gated intensified ch arge coupled device (ICCD) camera for simultaneous measurements of spectral lines in wide ranges of the optical spectrum is presented. The analytical and diagnostic power of the echelle-ICCD combination is demonstrated by las er induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) of solid samples. The apparatus al lows complete elemental analysis by single shots as the spectral lines of m ajor, minor and trace constituents are measured simultaneously. The analyti cal precision and detection limits in single shot measurements are improved by the evaluation of many lines for each element. Further, plasma paramete rs, such as the plasma temperatures, can be determined from the same spectr um and, if necessary, used far normalization of the analyte line intensitie s. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.