Advancing the experimental design for simultaneous acquisition of laser induced plasma and Raman signals using a single pulse

Simultaneous acquisition was performed of combined signals that show highly resolved and identifiable peaks of both LIBS and Raman signals. A LIBS-Raman combination using a single light source is a daunting task, because the energy required for Raman shift is relatively low, compared to the energy required for laser ablation. Here, we utilize an expanded-focused beam that allows simultaneous detection of the signals of laser induced plasma and Raman shift. A beam expander obtains the Raman signal with minimized interference from the plasma, and a focusing lens of small diameter generates strong laser induced plasma for LIBS. The position of the focusing lens can be adjusted to control the area of Raman scattering to ensure a strong Raman signal. In the proposed design, the key to minimized interference is to generate the Raman scattering apart from the plasma, which allows for sufficiently long gate width and wide area for Raman detection. Furthermore, axial relocation of the end of the optical fiber can easily optimize the Raman, LIBS, or combined Raman-LIBS signal.