The elemental composition of soil, biological tissue, ceramics, glass, gemstones, metals and even explosives can be analysed instantly using new spectrometer systems from Ocean Optics BV. The Laser-induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) systems are real-time, high resolution, portable instruments capable of analysing practically every known element in gas, liquid or solid samples with a sensitivity of parts per billion.
Applications for LIBS are as diverse as environmental sampling, forensic testing, semi-conductor analysis, archaeological research, cancer detection, paper production, blast-furnace monitoring, civil engineering and the detection of landmines, biological weapons and chemical contamination in solids, liquids or gas.
A complete LIBS scan can be executed in less than a second, saving time and making it possible to analyse transient samples. Only trace amounts of a sample are required for analysis, minimising sample preparation. LIBS systems can be used in the laboratory, in the field or remotely, and on any sample geometry.