A review of the development of portable laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and its applications

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy Vol. 101; pp. 269 - 287
• Main Authors: Rakovský, J., Čermák, P., Musset, O., Veis, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Beams (radiation); Devices; Engineering Sciences; Fiber laser; Fieldable LIBS; Instrumentation; Laser induced breakdown; Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; Lasers; Microchip laser; Optics; Photonic; Portability; Portable LIBS; Spectrographs; Spectrometers; Spectroscopy; Microchip laser; Portable LIBS; Fieldable LIBS; Fiber laser; Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2014.09.015

In this review, we present person-transportable laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) devices that have previously been developed and reported in the literature as well as their applications. They are compared with X-ray fluorescent (XRF) devices, which represent their strongest competition. Although LIBS devices have advantages over XRF devices, such as sensitivity to the light elements, high spatial resolution and the possibility to distinguish between different layers of the sample, there are also disadvantages and both are discussed here. Furthermore, the essential portable LIBS instrumentation (laser, spectrograph and detector) is presented, and published results related to new laser sources (diode-pumped solid-state, microchip and fiber lasers) used in LIBS are overviewed. Compared to conventional compact flashlamp pumped solid-state lasers, the new laser sources provide higher repetition rates, higher efficiency (less power consumption) and higher beam quality, resulting in higher fluences, even for lower energies, and could potentially increase the figure of merit of portable LIBS instruments. Compact spectrometers used in portable LIBS devices and their parts (spectrograph, detector) are also discussed. •Overview of portable LIBS devices transportable by a person•Discussion and new trends about portable LIBS instrumentation: laser, spectrograph and detector•Overview of applications of DPSS, microchip and fiber lasers in LIBS