Quantitative analysis of pathological nails using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been used as a potential method for simultaneous measurement of the elements Ca, Na, and K, for normal and pathological nails. We compared the measured LIBS spectra of these elements for normal and pathological nails. The B(2)Sigma(+) -> X(2)Sigma(+) violet band emission spectrum of CN was used for the estimation of the transient temperature of the plasma plume and consequently of the sample surface considering thermodynamic equilibrium.