Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy of high energy materials using nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond pulses: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

We present some of our initial experimental results from laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) studies of few high energy materials such as a simple match stick (MS) and BKNO3 (BPN), and ammonium perchlorate (AP) using nanosecond (ns), picosecond (ps), and femtosecond (fs) pulses. The characteristic peaks of each sample in different time domains are analyzed. The merits and de-merits of ultrashort pulses in LIBS experiments for discrimination of high energy materials are highlighted. © 2011 SPIE.