Laser beam profile influence on LIBS analytical capabilities: single vs. multimode beam

Single vs. multimode laser beams have been compared for laser ablation on steel samples. Laser plasma properties and analytical capabilities (precision, limit of detection) were used as key parameters for comparison. Peak fluence at focal spot has been observed to be higher for Gaussian beam despite similar to 14-fold lower pulse energy. A comparison of Gaussian and multimode beams with equal energy was carried out in order to estimate influence of beam profile only. Single mode lasing (Gaussian beam) results in better reproducibility of analytical signals compared to multimode lasing while laser energy reproducibility was the same for both cases. Precision improvements were attributed to more stable laser ablation due to better reproducibility of beam profile fluence at laser spot. Plasma temperature and electron density were higher for Gaussian laser beams. Calibration curves were obtained for four elements under study (Cr, Mn, Si, Cu). Two sampling (drilling and scanning procedures) and two optical detection schemes (side-view and optical fiber) were used to compare Gaussian and multimode beam profile influence on analytical capabilities of LIBS. We have found that multimode beam sampling was strongly influenced by surface effects (impurities, defects etc.). For all sampling and detection schemes, better precision was obtained if Gaussian beam was used for sampling. In case of single-spot sampling better limits of detection were achieved for multimode beam. If laser sources have the same wavelength and equal energy then quality of laser beam becomes a crucial parameter which determined laser ablation and analytical capabilities of LIBS.