Effects of ambient conditions on femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of Al

Aluminum alloy was analysed by using femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy under argon, air and helium environments at pressures ranging from 1 to 80 kPa. The results reveal that both spectra intensity and lines detection are significantly influenced by the ambient conditions. In all ambient gases, as the pressure increases the emitted light initially increases, attains its maximum intensity and then decreases with further increase in pressure. It is also observed that some lines are well detected at low pressures in argon while they are absent at the same pressures in helium. In addition, plasma parameters such as electron densities and electron temperature have been investigated at different pressures in the three gases. Hotter and denser plasma has been observed in argon than that in air and helium. Furthermore, it is noted that plasma parameters at relative low pressures of argon (1 kPa) are similar to those obtained at relative high pressures of helium (80 kPa). The optimum conditions for the use of argon and helium as ambient gases have been determined. In fact, argon provides the best environment of femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy only at relative low pressures while helium constitutes a good environment only at relative high pressures. (paper)