Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is an emerging elemental analysis technology in which ultrashort pulse lasers are focused onto the sample surface through optical lenses, creating high energy density in the focused spot area. When the energy exceeds the breakdown threshold, plasma is generated locally. During the cooling of the plasma, excited atoms and ions transition spontaneously from high-energy states to low-energy states. By analyzing the characteristic spectra emitted during these transitions, the composition and content of elements in the sample can be determined. Theoretically, this technology can detect all elements in solid, liquid, and gas samples without sample preparation. Its detection performance is limited only by the laser's power and the sensitivity and wavelength range of the spectrometer and detector.
LIBS technology has gained attention in metallurgy, environmental protection, geology, and biomedicine due to its fast detection speed, no need for sample pretreatment, and ability to perform in-situ real-time detection.
In China, several research units have applied LIBS technology:
1. Ocean University of China uses LIBS in marine exploration.
2. Shenyang Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an online LIBS steel composition analyzer.
3. South China University of Technology co-developed an offline rapid coal powder carbon content analyzer.
4. Jiangxi Agricultural University uses LIBS to detect heavy metal elements in agricultural products (e.g., oranges).
5. Tsinghua University has achieved significant research results in combustion products.
All the above research units have adopted one or more of our laser series products in their LIBS systems. Below, we describe the differences in the applications of each LIBS product.
Beamtech offers various solutions for the LIBS field. The Dawa series, Lapa-80 series, Nimma series, and Vlite series dual-pulse lasers are all suitable for LIBS applications. The Dawa series is ideal for LIBS laboratories and integrated systems. The Lapa-80 series features miniaturization, maintenance-free operation, and a long lifespan, making it suitable for integrated systems. The Nimma series, with higher single pulse energy, is suitable for remote LIBS. The Vlite series employs dual-pulse LIBS to enhance the signal to approximately 30 times that of a single-pulse signal, which makes it more suitable for quantitative analysis.
Additionally, Beamtech can provide customized systems according to customer needs, offering comprehensive solutions.
