fs/ns dual-pulse LIBS analytic survey for copper-based alloys

The quantitative analytic capability of a fs/ns dual-pulse Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy technique, based on the orthogonal reheating of a fs-laser ablation plume by a ns-laser pulse, is presented. In this work, it is shown how the effect played by the delay times between the two laser beams can vary the analytical response of this dual-pulse LIBS configuration. In order to address this task, the Sn, Pb and Zn calibration curves of five certified copper-based samples have been investigated. These calibration curves have been obtained, in air at atmospheric pressure, by integrating the emission data collected in two different inter-pulse delay zones, one in the delay interval of 1-41 mu s, the other within the range of 46-196 mu s. For drawing the species calibration curves, the emission intensities of the considered Pb(I), Sn(I) and Zn(I) electronic transitions have been normalized with a non-resonant Cu(I) emission line. The experimental results have shown that, by varying the inter-pulse delay between the two laser beams, complementary analytical results can be induced. By considering at once all data acquired within the inter-pulse delay time of 1-196 mu s, this hypothesis has been strengthened. The calibration curves obtained in this way are characterized by excellent linear regression coefficients (0.988-0.999) despite of the large Sn, Pb and Zn compositional variation of the targets employed. The results presented reveal, for the first time, that, by taking into account the role played by the inter-pulse delay time between the two laser beams, the fs/ns dual-pulse LIBS configuration here used can be improved and provide very good opportunities for performing quantitative analysis of copper-based alloys. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.