Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of Zr in short ultraviolet wavelength range

• We studied laser-induced breakdown spectra of metallic zirconium in short UV range.
• Emission and absorption of triply and doubly ionized Zr ions were found.
• Emission lines of Zr I and Zr II were found which are absent in known data bases.

Emission and absorption spectra of a laser-induced zirconium plasma are studied at early times after plasma formation in the short UV spectral range from 190 to 240 nm. Many lines from highly ionized Zr ions, such as Zr IV at 216.4 and 228.7 nm and Zr III at 194.1, 194.7, 193.1, 196.3, 196.6, 197.5, 199.0, 200.3, 200.8, 202.8, 203.6, 205.7, 206.1, 207.1, 208.6, 210.2, 211.4, 217.6, and 219.1 nm have been found in the plasma under ambient and vacuum conditions. These lines could be detected in both single-pulse and double-pulse ablation modes. Several of the detected lines, namely those observed at 195.0, 198.2, 199.7, 229.4, 231.6, 232.4 and 233.0 nm, could not be attributed to Zr after inspecting known spectral data bases. From the temporal persistence behavior of these lines, it is concluded that they most likely belong to Zr I and Zr II emission lines that have not previously been reported.