Increasing the sensitivity of the Fs-LIBS method by controlling the type of laser radiation polarization

Emission analysis of matter by femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (Fs-LIBS) has great interest in various fields: science, technology, medicine, and environmental monitoring. This method allows to carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis of matter in any aggregate state. The sensitivity of this method depends on many parameters of laser radiation, one of which is polarization. The report presents the results of a study the effect of laser radiation polarization on the intensity of the plasma emission lines. River sand was used as the test mixture, it mainly consists of SiO2 and FeO. River sand is a good imitation of particles carried during dust storms. Tracking and controlling dust storms is an urgent task in the problem of environmental monitoring and improving the efficiency of agricultural management in arid zones. The study shows that when changing the polarization type of the excitation radiation and approaching a circular polarization state, the intensity of Si, O, and Fe emission lines increases by 80%. These results have important practical significance in the problem of increasing the sensitivity of the Fs-LIBS method.