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Steven K Hughes

Robert C Fry

Madeline J Arnold

Michael R Dyas

The present invention facilitates improvements in laser ablation of solid samples to be analyzed by an external inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometer, ICP/mass-spectrometer (ICP-MS), or flowing afterglow (FAG) mass spectrometer (FAG-MS) for elemental analysis (ICP and ICP-MS) or molecular analysis (FAG-MS). A novel invention mirror-with-hole beam combiner eliminates chromatic aberration in the invention sample view and allows rad-hardening the laser ablation invention for use in a radiation hot cell for analysis of high activity nuclear waste. Many other novel invention rad-hardening attributes facilitate a comprehensive rad-hardened laser ablation system (the world's first). In other embodiments, invention novelties include unusually large homogeneous focused laser spot diameters, unusually long laser objective lens focal length, wide range operationally variable laser path length with built-in re-alignment, operationally variable demagnification ratio and diameter of the focused laser spot, the use of significantly higher powered SMR lasers in a large spot diameter to facilitate high sensitivity bulk analysis of solid samples, a demountable and gravitationally self-sealing stack assembly laser ablation cell, and the world's first auto-samplers (mechanized sample changers) for analytical laser ablation.

Analytical laser ablation of solid samples for ICP, ICP-MS and FAG-MS analysis

This invention is improved laser ablation of solid samples analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), ICP mass spectrometry, or flowing afterglow mass spectrometry. A mirror-with-hole eliminates chromatic aberration in sample viewing and allows rad-hardening for radiation hot cell analysis of nuclear waste. Other attributes facilitate comprehensively rad-hardened laser ablation. Additional improvements include large, homogeneous laser spots, long-focus objective lenses, variable laser path length with built-in re-alignment, variable demagnification ratio, higher powered SMR lasers with larger spots enabling sensitive bulk solids analysis, demountable gravitationally self sealing stack assembly sample ablation cells, and laser ablation sample changers.

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

Steven K Hughes