Handheld LIBS Applications Continue Rapid Expansion

University researchers continue to find novel applications for the SciAps handheld LIBS.  The SciAps Z is the world's most advanced handheld LIBS device.  The Z features a wide range spectrometer (190 nm - 950 nm), gate-able spectrometer, and integrated argon purge.  It is capable of measuring every element in the Periodic Table.  The Z is also equipped with PC software allowing operators to choose their own lines, build calibration curves and methods, and customize the amount of spectral pre-processing. The handheld weighs in at 4.5 lbs and can be transported anywhere in the world for instant elemental analysis. Consider joining the growing ranks of scientists using LIBS for their field work!

Some recent publications featuring the Z

Discriminating Volcanic Centers with Handheld Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) R. Harmon et al., Journal of Archeological Science 98, 2018  pg. 112-127. In this publication, the authors analyze a variety of igneous rocks of volcanic origin.  They demonstrate that the origin of stone artifacts may be identified in the field using handheld LIBS.

‍Looking at carbon cycle data by analyzing carbonate rocks with handheld LIBS Jack Murphy Department of Geosciences Princeton University Summary provided by Dr. Murphy: "Our research group looks at the evolution of the carbon cycle and the global climate system over Earth history.  One way to learn about this history is by measuring and interpreting signals recorded in the chemistry of carbonate rocks. Two particular areas of interest for our group are the processes that control seawater chemistry on a geologic timescale and the post-depositional processes that affect the chemistry of carbonate sediment and rocks. In July 2018 we had the opportunity to take a handheld SciAps LIBS system on a field campaign to a remote area of the Wernecke Mountains, Yukon Territory. Prior to departure, a day was spent with the instrument building calibrations for elements of interest using known samples of materials with similar composition to the rocks we would be analyzing in the field. The instrument easily withstood shipment to the Yukon. On-site the instrument was carried in a backpack during daily traverses to be used directly on rock outcroppings. The instrument was also used on hand samples brought back to base camp. The SciAps LIBS system proved to be robust and reliable, providing rapid, reproducible data for a wide range of elements. Of particular interest was the data for key light elements, for which XRF performs poorly or cannot detect at all."  

‍Chemostratigraphic analysis using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy:  Mars, by way of the Newark Basin Naomi Joyce Rodgers (1), Sean Kinney (2), Kevin Lewis (2), Paul Olson (2), Johns Hopkins University (1) and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (2) Rodgers et al. performed a study on a sample section of Newark Basin Cores and showed that handheld LIBS provides a quick chemical analysis technique for capturing geochemical trends in sedimentary sequences.

‍