1. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 The Use of Digital Delay Generators in Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Applications

2. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 Digital Delay Generator Digital Delay Generator - a key component for LIBS applications –Precise timing between the laser and detector –Sets the duration of the detector gate –Sets the time between lasers – dual pulse –Determine the rate and number of pulses – multiple pulse Timing is a variable in every LIBS application and proper timing can greatly enhance the efficacy of a system.

3. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 Digital Delay Generator – What Does It Do?

4. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 Digital Delay Generator – What Does It Do? It provides several different sets of timing pulses – each synchronized to one another

5. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 DDG Features The pulses: –Trigger and synchronize lasers –Delay and gate ICCDs –Delay and gate cameras and imaging equipment

6. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 LIBS Applications The dynamics of the laser plume/plasma in LIBS determines the optimal time to take measurements 1.The vapor plume expands after the laser, then 2.Two shockwaves – in the background gas region and in the vapor plume occur, then 3.From a few µS to tens of µS, the plume experiences radiative heat loss. Dynamic changes occur with time Bottom line – wavelength, type of sample, laser energy, laser width, your detector configuration – all affect the optimal time to take a measurement

7. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 LIBS Applications One needs to adjust delays and gates to find the optimal settings – this is what a delay generator gives you

8. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 The Role of the Delay Generator Dual pulse methods have improved the limits of detection for many LIBS applications –Orthogonal and collinear methods have been discussed in the literature –Differing energy levels for each laser is indicated –In all cases the time between lasers is adjusted for optimal results

9. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 Multi-pulse LIBS Multiple pulses from one laser or firing of several lasers –Low energy multiple pulses via a DDG burst –Sequencing several lasers with a single detector via a multi-channel DDG

10. Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation www.berkeleynucleonics.com 1-800-234-7858 Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation BNC makes inexpensive delay generators that –Delay and gate ICCDs –Control the time between dual pulses and then delay and gate the ICCD –Provide single triggers to multiple lasers –Provide multiple triggers to a single laser BNC has been making digital delay generators since 1973