Direct Aerosol Analysis by Time Resolved Laser Plasma Spectroscopy - Improvement by Single Shot Measurements

Environmental and industrial aerosols can be analyzed on-line by laser plasma spectroscopy. The main problem in direct (no preparation or presorting) aerosol analysis is the extensive spectral fluctuations. A method to partially solve this problem is proposed. It is based on single shot measurements and application of a special rejection algorithm. The major factors that influence the spectral variations are discussed, in relation to the correction possibility by a rejection program. The method works well when average intensity of the single spectra is relatively high, as compared to detector's saturation limit. If intensities are too low, the accumulation of readout noise is critical, and no improvement is expected.