Laser ablation initiated fast discharge for spectrochemical applications

The results of an experimental study of the optical emission enhancement possibilities during the single pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy of the aluminum alloy are presented. This study is performed in air, argon and helium at different pressures with and without the additional fast electric discharge. The discharge was initiated by plasma plume created by laser ablation of target. The influences of various capacitors and discharge voltages on enhancement of the studied spectral line intensities were also studied. The application of the fast discharge through optical emission enhancement enables lowering of detection limits thus making this spectrochemical method comparable with the other analytical techniques.