Resonant laser ablation of copper and its application in microanalysis

Resonant laser ablation (RLA) is a two-step process, occurring within a pulse of a tunable laser, in which the leading edge of the laser pulse ablates a solid surface to produce neutral atoms or molecules that are then resonantly ionized by the trailing edge of the same laser pulse. The sensitivity and selectivity of RLA allow detection and quantitation at very low concentrations. In our preliminary RLA research, a sub-ppm detection level has been reached for copper in a standard aluminium sample. In addition, the threshold and saturation effects of RLA have been observed.