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 charge 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 laser induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) of solid samples. The apparatus allows complete elemental analysis by single shots as the spectral lines of major, minor and trace constituents are measured simultaneously. The analytical precision and detection limits in single shot measurements are improved by the evaluation of many lines for each element. Further, plasma parameters, such as the plasma temperatures, can be determined from the same spectrum and, if necessary, used far normalization of the analyte line intensities. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.