Improvements of laser induce breakdown spectroscopy technique for the analysis of solid sample

Resumen

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) allows obtaining the elemental composition of a sample through the analysis of the optical emission of the plasma created by a pulsed laser. Even though the LIBS technique has been tested and proved adequate in numerous applications, LIBS suffers several drawbacks as relativity low limits of detection and lack of reproducibility in comparison with other analytical techniques. Furthermore, figures of merit such as surface sensitivity or lateral resolution need to be improved when LIBS is employed in the surface analysis field. With the aim to overcome these drawbacks and enhance the analytical capabilities of LIBS, several improvements with special emphasis on the analysis of solid samples are discussed in this thesis. In an attempt to reduce the time employed in the data processing, a versatile and specific spectroscopy software for a complete LIBS spectra analysis was developed. Several improvements including alternative data processing methods and experimental upgrades were evaluated with the aim to extend the applicability and enhance the performance of LIBS when is employed in the analysis of surfaces. A collinear double pulse configuration using femtosecond pulses was explored in the analysis of solid samples.