title: Effect of steady magnetic field on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
abstract: Effects of a steady magnetic field on the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of certain elements (Mn, Mg, Cr, and Ti) in aqueous solution were studied, in which the plasma plume expanded across an external steady magnetic field (approximately 6 kilogauss). Nearly 1.6 times enhancement in the line emission intensity was observed in the presence of the magnetic field. The temporal evolution of the line emission showed a significant enhancement in plasma emission between 2- and 7- micro(s) gate delays for Mg in the presence of the magnetic field (5-30 micro(s) for Mn). This enhancement in the emission is attributed to an increase in the rate of recombination because of an increase in plasma density due to a magnetic confinement after cooling the plasma. The increase in the optical line emission due to magnetic confinement was absent when the plasma was hot with a dominant background (continuum) emission. The limits of detection of Mg and Mn were reduced by a factor of two in the presence of a steady magnetic field of 5 kilogauss.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostics Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory, Mississippi State University, 205 Research Boulevard, Starkville, Mississippi 39759-7704, USA.
authors.forename: Virendra N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Hansheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fang Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Yueh
authors.forename: Jagdish P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Akshaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar