posted on 2007-06-15, 00:00authored byM. Mueller, I. B. Gornushkin, S. Florek, D. Mory, U. Panne
Gated detection with intensified detectors, e.g., ICCDs,
is today the accepted approach for detection of plasma
emission in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).
However, these systems are more cost-intensive and less
robust than nonintensified CCDs. The objective of this
paper is to compare, both theoretically and experimentally, the performance of an intensified (ICCD) and nonintensified (CCD) detectors for detection of plasma emission in LIBS. The CCD is used in combination with a
mechanical chopper, which blocks the early continuum
radiation from the plasma. The detectors are attached
sequentially to an echelle spectrometer under the same
experimental conditions. The laser plasma is induced on
a series of steel samples under atmospheric conditions.
Our results indicate that there is no substantial difference
in the performance of the CCD and ICCD. Signal-to-noise
ratios and limits of detection achieved with the CCD for
Si, Ni, Cr, Mo, Cu, and V in steel are comparable or even
better than those obtained with the ICCD. This result is
further confirmed by simulation of the plasma emission
signal and the corresponding response of the detectors
in the limit of quantum (photon) noise.