New Laser-based Instruments Can Analyse Anything in Just One Second

The elemental composition of soil, biological tissue, ceramics, glass, gemstones, metals and even explosives can be analysed instantly using new spectrometer systems from Ocean Optics BV. The Laser-induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) systems are real-time, high resolution, portable instruments capable of analysing practically every known element in gas, liquid or solid samples with a sensitivity of parts per billion.

Applications for LIBS are as diverse as environmental sampling, forensic testing, semi-conductor analysis, archaeological research, cancer detection, paper production, blast-furnace monitoring, civil engineering and the detection of landmines, biological weapons and chemical contamination in solids, liquids or gas.

A complete LIBS scan can be executed in less than a second, saving time and making it possible to analyse transient samples. Only trace amounts of a sample are required for analysis, minimising sample preparation. LIBS systems can be used in the laboratory, in the field or remotely, and on any sample geometry.