USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Gregory A Theriault

Leonard J Martini

Stephen H Lieberman

David S Knowles

Leon V Smith

A LIBS cone penetrometer comprises a decoupling mirror to separate an excitation signal and a response signal, an optical fiber arranged with the decoupling mirror for receiving the excitation signal from an energy source and transmitting the response signal from a sample surface, and a cone penetrometer probe connected to the distal end of the optical fiber. The probe further comprises a collimating lens arranged with the optical fiber for collimating the excitation signal and for directing the response signal into the optical fiber. An internally reflecting prism is aligned with the collimating lens to deflect the excitation signal and the response signal between the collimating lens and the sample surface through a window in the side of the probe. A focusing lens is aligned with the prism and the window to reduce the spot size of the excitation signal and to collimate the response signal. The window is arranged with the focusing lens to maintain the distance between the focusing lens and the sample surface and to prevent outside matter from entering the probe.

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy soil contamination probe

A translation system for directing an optical signal through predetermined oordinates of a window mounted in a soil penetration probe includes a tube having a sidewall and an aperture through said sidewall; an optically transparent window mounted in said aperture; an optical system for emitting an optical signal through said aperture; and a translation mechanism mounted within said tube. The translation mechanism may be selectively operated to translate independently and simultaneously the optical system along two orthogonal vectors so that the optical signal scans across the window. Scanning the optical signal extends the useful life of the window before its transmissibility becomes too impaired by damage caused from the optical signal.

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Encinitas, CA, United States of America

Gregory A Theriault