Open-path laser-induced plasma spectrometry for long-range elemental analysis

Abstract

In this paper, open-path laser-induced plasma spectrometry (OP-LIPS) has been investigated for remote elemental analysis of solids up to several tens meters range. We outline the feasibility of this approach and take a first step toward the investigation of its potential. The pulsed radiation of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm has been used to induce a plasma on the sample and the emission has been collected under an open path scheme. The system performance for both identification purposes and for semiquantitative analysis will be discussed.