Development of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy system using a ceramic micro-laser for fiber-optic remote analysis

Radiation dose rate effects on the properties of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy system developed using a ceramics micro-laser for fiber-optic remote analysis

“…Figure 1 shows the setup of the developed FO-MCLIBS system and the experimental arrangement in a radiation environment. Details of the system were explained in the previous work [18]. In the monolithic Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG composite ceramics used in this study (YAG -3.0 × 3.0 × 10.0 mm 3 , Nd: YAG -8.2 mm + Cr:YAG -1.8 mm; Konoshima Chemical/Baikowski-Japan, Japan), Nd:YAG acted as a gain medium, and Cr:YAG as a saturable absorber.…”

“…As illustrated in Figure 4, pulses are generated repeatedly from the laser by passive Q-switching during LD pump duration [18]. The timing diagram for laser oscillation and signal integration is also shown in this Figure , where a synchronized signal of the LD pump from the PS was used to trigger the measurements.…”

“…A plot (f) in Figure 9 shows the number of pulse N generated during a unit pump period as shown in Figure 5 (c), which decreases with the dose rate. LIBS signal intensity by multi-pulse irradiation (multi-burst mode [18]) within the signal integration period is related to optical intensity multiplied by pulse number N, namely E/D/S•N (Figure 9 (g)). According to the estimation made, the LIBS related intensity decreases approximately to 0.3 with dose rate compared with the non-irradiated signal intensity.…”

“…The FO-MCLIBS system has been developed using Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG composite ceramics [18]. The laser properties of the developed system are well suited for LIBS measurements and resulted in LIBS spectra are applicable for remote inspection purposes [18].…”

“…The FO-MCLIBS system has been developed using Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG composite ceramics [18]. The laser properties of the developed system are well suited for LIBS measurements and resulted in LIBS spectra are applicable for remote inspection purposes [18]. However, for practically applying the developed system into nuclear inspection, its operation in the radiation environment, and radiation dose rate effects on the laser properties and resultant LIBS spectra need to be studied.…”