Join the OSA Applied Spectroscopy Technical Group and Dr. Andrzej Miziolek for this webinar featuring a discussion the evolution of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy into real-world applications. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a form of spark spectrochemical analysis which has evolved significantly over the last few decades with rapid growth in the analysis of real-world samples.  The convergence of developments in the last decade in both hardware (e.g. broadband spectrometers, smaller and more powerful lasers) as well as data analysis techniques (e.g. chemometrics) has propelled LIBS into new and uncharted territory with regards to its impact on humankind. 

For example, the LIBS containing ChemCam system on the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity is producing an immense amount of very valuable data on the composition of the soil and rocks on the surface of the planet and is clearly demonstrating the inherent attributes of the LIBS technique with regards to speed, ruggedness, compactness, and robustness.  Published examples from laboratories world-wide are accelerating in numbers covering topics such as analysis of:  human tissue (for surgery aid and for the detection of cancer), food products such as olive oils and spices (for quality, adulteration, and authenticity of source), plants (cigar and cannabis origin, presence of pesticides), toxic and wear metal analysis in engines and transmission, are among a large number of examples.   

The future of LIBS is indeed very bright, especially for its use in real-world applications outside of the laboratory, which is becoming a reality with the recent development of portable and field-worthy devices such as the handheld units currently being sold by at least 5 companies.  This webinar will present an overview on the current status and speculations about where the LIBS technology could be going in the next 5 to 10 years and beyond.

What You Will Learn/Seminar Objectives:

• Attendees will learn about the fundamentals of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) from one of the key experts in the field. General principles along with instrumentation requirements will be considered.
• Attendees will be presented with an array of applications of LIBS technique, which will help to appreciate the capabilities of this technology for research and applied work.

Who Should Attend:

• Students wishing to learn about LIBS.
• Scientists looking to gain better understanding of LIBS capabilities and potentially including this method into their arsenal of analytical spectroscopic techniques.
• Anyone interested in learning about LIBS as one of the most powerful spectroscopic methods which is being actively studied in the modern field of Applied Spectroscopy.

Level:

• Intermediate; accessible to non-specialists in the field.