Abstract
Results are presented for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a method for measuring salt concentrations in seawater aerosol droplets. An excimer laser, operating at high pulse energy with KrF gas (λ = 248 nm) produces laser-induced breakdown plasmas in an aerosol spray. Emission lines of Na and H are monitored with an optical multichannel analyzer to characterize the plasma spatially and temporally. Studies of temporally resolved atomic line emissions from the plasma determine the optimum time for gating of the detector to be 2-4 μs after the excimer laser pulse arrives in the probe volume. Spatially resolved measurements of atomic emission line intensities are studied by positioning a stream of monodisperse droplets at various locations relative to the measurement probe volume. The electron temperature of the plasma is estimated to be 12,600 ± 4600 K, averaged over 1700 measurements during a 100-ns interval 2 μs after breakdown. Calibration curves are presented relating the Na(I) 589-nm to H<sub>α</sub> 656.3-nm intensity ratio as a function of Na concentration, ranging from 100 to 10,000 ppm. Limits of detection for Na by the current method under the experimental conditions are estimated to be approximately 165 ppm for monodisperse sprays and 925 ppm for one case involving a polydisperse spray. Droplet diameter strongly influences the observed emission intensity ratio.
PDF Article
More Like This
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of liquid solutions: a comparative study on the forms of liquid surface and liquid aerosol
Xinyan Yang, Lianbo Guo, Jiaming Li, Rongxing Yi, Zhongqi Hao, Meng Shen, Ran Zhou, Kuohu Li, Xiangyou Li, Yongfeng Lu, and Xiaoyan Zeng
Appl. Opt. 55(26) 7406-7411 (2016)
Cited By
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription