A Comparative Study of Single-pulse and Double-pulse Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy with Uranium-containing Samples

Journal Article · Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Applied Spectroscopy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/0003702815626670· OSTI ID:1254588

Skrodzki, P. J.; Becker, J. R.; Diwakar, P. K.; Harilal, S. S.; Hassanein, A.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) holds potential advantages in special nuclear material (SNM) sensing and nuclear forensics which require rapid analysis, minimal sample preparation and stand-off distance capability. SNM, such as U, however, result in crowded emission spectra with LIBS, and characteristic emission lines are challenging to discern. It is well-known that double-pulse LIBS (DPLIBS) improves the signal intensity for analytes over conventional single-pulse LIBS (SPLIBS). This study investigates U signal in a glass matrix using DPLIBS and compares to signal features obtained using SPLIBS. DPLIBS involves sequential firing of 1.06 µm Nd:YAG pre-pulse and 10.6 µm TEA CO2 heating pulse in near collinear geometry. Optimization of experimental parameters including inter-pulse delay and energy follows identification of characteristic lines and signals for bulk analyte Ca and minor constituent analyte U for both DPLIBS and SPLIBS. Spatial and temporal coupling of the two pulses in the proposed DPLIBS technique yields improvements in analytical merits with negligible further damage to the sample compared to SPLIBS. Subsequently, the study discusses optimum plasma emission conditions of U lines and relative figures of merit in both SPLIBS and DPLIBS. Investigation into plasma characteristics also addresses plausible mechanisms related to observed U analyte signal variation between SPLIBS and DPLIBS.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1254588
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-108359; DN2001000
• Journal Information: Applied Spectroscopy, Vol. 70, Issue 3; ISSN 0003-7028
• Publisher: Society for Applied Spectroscopy
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English