Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Real-Time Detection of Halon Alternative Agents

Abstract

We report results of an evaluation of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the detection of candidate halon replacement compounds (CF4, CF3H, CF2H2, and C2F3H). The fundamental (1.064 micrometers) from a Nd:YAG Q-switched pulsed laser was focused into an air flow containing 0.0005-5% of the analyte halocarbon compounds. The laser-produced plasma emission consists of a large number of intense fluorine atom lines in the 600-850-nm spectral range. Limit-of-detection studies indicate that LIBS can detect these compounds in the parts-per-million range. Also, we have recorded single-shot LIBS spectra with good S/N using an intensified photodiode array. Our results indicate that LIBS is a promising detection technique for in-situ and real time measurement of halons during use in full-scale fire-suppression testing.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA370986

Entities

People

  • Andrzej W. Miziolek
  • Cynthia K. Williamson
  • Kevin L. McNesby
  • Robert G. Daniel

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Flow
  • Amplifiers
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electrons
  • Fire Suppression
  • Flow
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Nanosecond Time
  • Photodiodes
  • Pulsed Lasers
  • Spectra
  • Spectroscopy

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Fire Suppression Systems Design.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy