LIBS/RAMAN

Goal:

Creation of an integrated instrument capable of LIBS and Raman spectroscopy of surfaces at sub-100 μm spot size with laser delivery and spectra collection via optical fibers.  LIBS utilizes a highly focused laser pulse to ablate a small amount of surface material and generate a plasma ball.  During cooling of the plasma, atomic emission spectra are emitted, providing qualitative and quantitative information about the atomic composition of the material.  Raman spectroscopy here makes use of the same laser at a lower, non-destructive power.  The inelastic scatter of the laser light interacting with vibrational and rotational energy modes of molecules produces distinctive spectral signatures, providing information about the molecular composition of the surface.

 

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Christopher Dreyer, Colorado School of Mines

 

Institutional Principal Investigator:

Greg Mungas

 

Project Status:

-Developed three axis micron accuracy positioning for laser focusing and raster scanning of surfaces.

-Developed Mars simulation chamber for testing LIBS in low pressure Martian atmosphere environment.

-LIBS spot sizes of ~30 μm achieved with qualitative elemental analysis.

-Raman spectra obtained with LIBS capable laser and spectrometer.

-In development of improved laser delivery and collection optics probe head with better alignment capability and collection efficiency for enhanced trace element detection.

-In development of new, high accuracy quantitative LIBS analysis algorithm (see publications below).

 

Publications:

G. Mungas, “Temporally and Spatially Integrated Elemental Analysis Algorithm for Low-Pressure Micro-LIBS Measurements,”  App. Opt. Vol. 46, No. 19. pp. 4015-4019

Firestar Engineering, llc