A simple method for forward variable selection and calibration: evaluation for compact and low-cost laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy system.

This work presents a new method for forward variable selection and calibration and its evaluation for manganese determination in steel by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). A compact and low-cost LIBS instrument was used, based on a microchip laser and a grating mini-spectrometer containing a non-intensified, non-gated, and non-cooled linear sensor array. Sixty steel samples were analyzed, with known manganese concentrations from 0.