Enhancement of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopic Signals in a Liquid Jet with Glow Discharge.

In this work, emission signals of laser-induced breakdown (LIBS) plasma of a flowing liquid jet in the absence and presence of an air-supported glow discharge have been investigated. In combination with a needle-to-needle glow discharge, a Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1064 nm, 5 ns) with power density ∼10W/cm was used to generate a plasma from a liquid jet. Emission lines of Mg, Ca, Al, Li, Na, and K all showed significant enhancements in the presence of the glow discharge. Lower continuum background was also observed. Mechanisms of the line emission enhancement and continuum radiation reduction were discussed.