Boron- and iron-bearing molecules in laser-induced plasma

• We studied laser-induced breakdown spectra of B with Ca, Mg and Sr in air.
• Emission of polyatomic molecules was found.
• Molecules of FeO were found in laser-induced plasma in air.

Boron combines with alkali-earth elements, such as Ca, Mg, and Sr and with oxygen to form molecules in LIP of boron-bearing minerals with strong and characteristic band emission. It may be supposed that those bands are of CaBO2, MgBO2 and SrBO2 type. Besides, emission of BO, BO2 and FeO is also detected.