Development of a 3D laser scanning system for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

We report a new laser scanning device to be used in a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system. The system consists of a tunable lens, a cold mirror that transmits infrared wavelengths, two galvano mirrors, a condenser lens, and an optical axis adjusting laser. Conventional laser scanning technologies have two main applications: (i) in the industry, for drawing simple dots/lines with high power lasers; and (ii) in laser art projections, where far more complex illustrations and animations using visible lasers have been achieved. These two applications have been developed separately. Our scanning system combines the advantages of both these technologies by employing high-strength galvano mirrors as well as a driving system that meets the international laser display association (ILDA) standard. Moreover, by assembling the electrically controlled tunable lens, any measuring point where the generation of laser-induced plasma is needed, can be reached in a given space.