Arc-plasma-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (AP-LIBS): A Study on Signal Enhancement and Spatiotemporal Distribution

This study investigated the fundamental aspects of signal enhancement in arc-plasma-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (AP-LIBS), as a crucial step towards its potential application for enhanced real-time compositional analysis in electric arc furnaces (EAF). By superimposing a sustained arc discharge with nanosecond laser pulses on molten iron, AP-LIBS achieved significant signal enhancement compared with conventional LIBS. Spatiotemporal characterizations revealed that the enhancement was most pronounced in the peripheral plasma region, characterized by larger plasma size and longer lifetime in AP-LIBS setups. The enhancement factor η, defined as the ratio of AP-LIBS signal intensity to the sum of individual arc and laser-induced plasma intensities, exceeds 10 for most emission species. Spatial distribution analyses show increased emission intensities at greater distances from the laser spot in AP-LIBS, in contrast to the decay observed in standard LIBS. Temporal analysis demonstrated extended high-intensity periods for AP-LIBS compared to the rapid decay in conventional LIBS techniques. The spatiotemporal behavior of the enhancement factor varies significantly among the emission species, thereby providing insights into complex plasma dynamics. Elements with low vapor pressure and ionic species generally exhibited higher enhancement, whereas elements with high vapor pressure exhibited limited enhancement, indicating minimal additional evaporation effects for high vapor pressure element. These findings provide valuable insights into plasma generation and maintenance mechanisms in AP-LIBS, suggesting its potential for improved sensitivity in elemental analysis for electric arc furnace applications.