Halogen detection with molecular laser induced fluorescence

Abstract

The detection of low halogen concentrations by atomic Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is usually difficult due to low intensity lines, which overlaps with matrix and due to an uncomfortable spectral region. Molecular LIBS (MLIBS) based on diatomic molecules of halogens with alkali earth element emission substantially increases sensitivity for halogen detection. We demonstrate that the Molecular Laser Induced Fluorescence (MLIF) method allows one to further increase the halogen detection approach. Practical application of the LIBS-MLIF method is demonstrated on Cl atom detection in concrete samples.