Analytical Sciences

Stabilization of the Spark-discharge Point on a Sample Surface by Laser Irradiation for Steel Analysis

Hideyuki MATSUTA,* Kuniyuki KITAGAWA,** and Kazuaki WAGATSUMA*

*Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
**Ecotopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan

A combined technique with laser irradiation is suggested to control spark discharge for analytical use, having a unique feature that firing points of the spark discharge can be fixed by laser irradiation. Because the spark discharge easily initiates at particular surface sites, such as non-metallic inclusions, called selective discharge, the concentration of some elements sometimes deviates from their average one in spark discharge optical emission spectrometry. Therefore, stabilization of firing points on a sample surface could improve the analytical precision.

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