LASER-INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY FOR SIZING AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF DISCRETE AEROSOL-PARTICLES

The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique has been extended t o provide quantitative analysis of the mass and elemental composition of individual, submicrometer to micrometer-sized aerosol particles. A two-part approach was used for calibration of the overall mass concent ration response, and of the characteristic plasma volume, equal to 2.5 x 10(-4) cm(3). Laboratory results are presented for submicrometer-si zed particles containing a known concentration of magnetite. Additiona l data are presented for fine particulate matter measured in ambient a ir, including: magnesium-containing particles with an average size of 313 nm. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.