Effects of background conditions on laser spark spectroscopy in air

Summary form only given. Improved monitors are required to measure toxic metal concentrations emitted from incinerator and power plant stacks. These monitors must be capable of sensitive, continuous measurements on a variety of metals. We investigate the ability of laser spark spectroscopy to perform quantitative, in-situ measurements of metal concentrations. A key consideration for the use of laser spark spectroscopy as an in-situ monitor is the ability to perform quantitative measurements. Unlike a well controlled laboratory measurement, the in-situ measurement is subject to variations in a number of background conditions. The degree to which these background conditions affect the measurements determines how quantitative the technique can be. We study the effects of background conditions on the laser-produced plasma by measuring the plasma temperature and electron density. These are the primary parameters that determine the strength of emission lines from a given element.