Determination of plasma properties by using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a growing technique in atomic spectroscopy due to its advantages with minimum sample preparation. LIBS use high-powered Nd-YAG laser that is focused on the surface of heavy metal samples. The samples choose were aluminium, brass and copper. This interaction caused the formation of plasma emission. This plasma emission is detected by a spectrometer and then analysed by using the application software, Origin 8.5 in the personal computer. This research was conducted in order to study the properties of the plasma such as the electron temperature and electron density. Electron temperature was calculated by using Boltzman plot method, whereas electron density was determined by using Saha-Boltzmann equation. Besides that, the effect of the time gate to the signal intensity also include in this project. Different delay time of 0 µs, 0.1 µs and 5.0 µs were used to compare the pattern of the spectral line. The results show the 5.0 µs delay time has a good pattern compared to 0 µs and 0.1 µs.