Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been established as a powerful method for identifying trace elemental contaminants by analyzing the atomic spectral emission lines that result subsequent to plasmas generated by laser power. The ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectral region exploited in conventional LIBS largely elucidates the elemental composition of the laser target by profiling these atomic lines; very limited information on molecular species may be derived. To

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... our best knowledge, there is no reference to LIBS measurements on emission processes outside of the UV-Vis-NIR region. In this pioneer work, attempts were made herein to probe the mid-infrared (MIR) emission from a laserinduced breakdown process between 2 to 5.75 µm. Emission features between 4200 to 4800 nm from oxygenated carbon-containing breakdown fragments and between 2000 to 4000 nm from alkali metal-containing breakdown fragments have been successfully identified. These findings could provide additional spectral information to complement the conventional LIBS analysis and launch a new analytical methodology and sensing method for future contamination avoidance applications. UU 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 5 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT unclassified b. ABSTRACT unclassified c. THIS PAGE unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18