Single-pollen analysis by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and Raman microscopy.

The application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to the analysis of single biological microparticles (bioaerosols) is described, exemplified here for a range of pollens. Spectra were recorded by exposure of the pollen to a single laser pulse from a Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 1064 nm, Ep approximately 30 mJ). The intensities of the single-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectra fluctuated dramatically, but an internal signal calibration procedure was applied that referenced elemental line intensities to the carbon matrix of the sample (represented by molecular bands of CN and C2).

Application of frustrated total internal reflection devices to analytical laser spectroscopy.

Novel implementations of single-fiber laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy systems that gated light switches based on frustrated total internal reflection are described. The switching devices are largely wavelength independent, with full temporal and spatial separation of laser and fluorescence light. Wavelength-independent beam separation or beam combination schemes can be implemented for coaxial optical setups, e.