title: Application of pulsed buffer gas jets for the signal enhancement of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
abstract: We report a new simple method for the signal enhancement of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy using a pulsed buffer gas jet. The signal is enhanced up to more than 10 fold by using argon gas jets, which are injected through a pulsed nozzle onto the sample area to be analyzed. By synchronizing the buffer gas pulse with the laser pulse and optimizing the spatial arrangements between the gas jet and the sample surface, we have successfully exploited the useful properties of the buffer gas in open atmosphere. The signal-enhancement mechanism in our buffer gas jet has been discussed. Also, applications to various samples (metal, glass, and paper) have been demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program of Photonics and Applied Physics, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Gon
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Sung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Myoung-Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hoonsoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suk
authors.forename: Yonghoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee