Backpack Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Atomic Emission Analysis System User's Manual

Abstract

The backpack LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) system is designed to provide rapid, in-field, elemental analysis of environmental samples important to the safeguarding of special nuclear materials. Currently, environmental elemental analysis is performed by collection, packaging, and shipping of samples to an approved analytical laboratory for analysis. This practice can take days to months, if not longer, to complete and is also costly, especially if some of the samples are contaminated with actinide elements. The backpack LIBS system is designed to be user friendly, with several integrated safety features making the system safe to operate under normal conditions. Operators should be aware that this system contains a Class IV embedded laser. Since safety interlock features, both software and hardware, have been integrated into the system, no laser safety eyewear is required. Depending upon the intended use and analysis scenario, most analyses can be completed in a matter of minutes. The complete system is operated from battery power in a standalone mode and weighs approximately 25 pounds. The nominal operational lifetime of the backpack LIBS system is approximately 3.5 hours.