Hybrid Interferometric/Dispersive Atomic Spectroscopy for Laser Induced Plasmas

Year
2015
Author(s)
I. Jovanovic - Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
P. Ko - Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Abstract
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has a potential to support nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation applications. LIBS, which is based on the measurement of the optical emission spectra of laser-pulse generated plasma, is capable of rapid analysis in the field environment. Isotopic measurements of nuclear material have been demonstrated using LIBS in recent years. Such high-resolution measurements usually require sizeable and costly components. Alternatively, a hybrid instrument consisting of an inexpensive, compact Fabry-Perot etalon coupled to a grating spectrometer is used to measure LIBS spectra. Reconstruction of the high- resolution wavelength spectrum from the spatially encoded angular interference pattern of the etalon is experimentally demonstrated in this study. The results of this work could lead to the development of a new class of high-resolution LIBS instruments for isotopic measurements of nuclear material.