Ocean Optics Wins Circle of Excellence Award

Researchers can achieve real-time measurements of trace elements in solids, liquids and gases with the broadband LIBS2000+ laser-induced breakdown spectrometer from Ocean Optics Inc. of Dunedin, Fla. Comprising seven HR2000 high-resolution spectrometers, the instrument is sensitive to all elements. With a small footprint and a starting cost of less than $30,000, it is suitable for many laboratories and applications.

The system includes the LIBS2000+ spectrometer, OOILIBS software, a shoebox-size sample chamber with built-in safety features and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser that can produce energy of 30 mJ or more. With a laser positioned a few centimeters from the sample in the chamber, users create plasma with a single 10-ns-wide laser pulse. The spectrometer analyzes light emitted from the plasma and returns a full elemental analysis of more than 14,000 pixels in approximately one second.

Each of the seven spectrometers contains a high-sensitivity 2048-element linear CCD array detector installed inside a high-resolution optical bench. The high resolution and broadband range of the instrument allow it to detect part-per-billion and picogram quantities of elements in samples.

The OOILIBS software can integrate and display information from multiple arrays and evaluate it based on linear and rank correlations. Users can create customized databases or use a preconfigured one to identify elements.

The portable LIBS2000+ also can be used to analyze the alloy composition of skate blades immediately prior to competition, and to identify hazardous materials at checkpoints and the composition of plastics in recycling centers.