Relative spectral response calibration of a spectrometer system for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy using the argon branching ratio method

Abstract

This paper reports the use of the Ar branching ratio as an alternative means of calibrating the relative spectral response of a spectrometer/detector apparatus, with emphasis on its use in Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) diagnostic experiments. The method is compared to the more conventional calibration routine using standard lamps. The argon method was implemented with an Ar-filled hollow cathode lamp and with a LIBS plasma in argon at different pressures. For the conventional calibration, a quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) lamp available in our laboratory has been used as a standard of spectral irradiance. The results obtained with the three methods are compared and discussed. It is shown that the spectral response data agree well with each other above 350 nm. At lower wavelengths, the data differ significantly. It is believed that this is due to the degradation of the calibration values of the lamp, which was not re-calibrated in a long time. It is concluded that the Ar-branching ratio method is a useful calibration technique for use with LIBS plasma diagnostic experiments.

Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in atomic spectrometry and related techniques

“…As an alternative and easy-to-implement way of calibrating the response, Li et al 101 reported the use of the wellknown Ar branching ratio. Quartz tungsten halogen lamps are widely used as spectral irradiance and radiance standards due to their continuous smooth emission from 250 to 2400 nm.…”

Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in atomic spectrometry and related techniques

“…However, these devices call for expensive recalibration aer a certain number of working hours. As an alternative and easy-to-implement way of calibrating the response, Li et al 101 reported the use of the wellknown Ar branching ratio. They showed that this method, in a laser-induced argon plasma, provided results tting well (e.g.…”

Echelle spectrometer calibration by means of laser plasma

“…Second, the rovibrational intensity distribution of NO and N 2 molecular emission from a low-temperature radio-frequency discharge plasma is used to correct the apparatus response function. A correction method based on a laser-induced plasma was proposed by Li et al [16]. Generating breakdown in argon gas, the emission of lines from the same upper energy level of Ar and Ar + species was used for calibration.…”