ARRAY DETECTION SYSTEM; ENERGETIC MATERIALS; SENSOR TECHNOLOGY; LIBS; SPECTRA; AIR; FEMTOSECOND; WAVELENGTHS; TIME

In this work, comparative long-wave infrared (LWIR) laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) emission studies of two excitation sources: conventional 1.064 mu m and eye-safe laser wavelength at 1.574 mu m were performed to analyze several widely-used inorganic energetic materials such as ammonium and potassium compounds as well as the organic liquid chemical warfare agent simulant, dimethyl methylphosphate (DMMP). LWIR LIBS emissions generated by both excitation sources were examined using three different detection systems: a single element liquid nitrogen cooled Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) detector, an MCT linear array detection system with multi-channel preamplifiers + integrators, and an MCT linear array detection system with readout integrated circuit. It was observed that LWIR LIBS studies using an eye-safe pump laser generally reproduced atomic and molecular IR LIBS spectra as previously observed under 1.064 mu m laser excitation. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America