In this study, we report a novel, to the best of our knowledge, instrumentation
procedure in the automation of laser beam steering for raster/spiral
scanning of the samples used in standoff femtosecond laser-induced
breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) experiments. We have used a readily
available and easy-to-handle Arduino-based computerized numerical
control (CNC) shield along with the free software, universal G-code
sender, for the automation. Standoff femtosecond filamentation-induced
breakdown spectra (St-Fs-FIBS) of metals, three compositions of Ag-Au
alloy, and polyvinyl chloride, unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, and
chlorinated polyvinyl chloride plastic samples were recorded using the
developed automated, experimental setup. The St-Fs-FIBS spectra were
recorded at a standoff distance of
∼
5
m
utilizing a simple hand-held
spectrometer. Furthermore, principal component analysis technique was
utilized for the successful classification of three compositions of
Au-Ag alloy spectra using their St-Fs-FIBS spectral data.