[Laser-induced breakdown spectrometer--a new tool for quick analysis of on-the-spot sample in metallurgy]

In metallurgical steel making a quick analysis of on-the-spot sample is required to know the process of steel making. A new-type spectrometer, laser-induced breakdown spectrometer developed by ourselves, was presented in the present paper. A Nd : YAG laser with pulse width of nanometer was used as an ionization and excitation source. Emission from the plasma ap-peared when the laser beam was focused on the surface of sample. After it was spectrally resolved by a Paschen-Runge polychromator, detected by photomultiplier detectors, integrated by gate intensifier, and converted by analog-to-digital converter, the final result was transmitted to a computer in order to complete data processing. Compared to the common spectrometer on-the-spot in metallurgy, this instrument allows fast analyis without sample preparation (one minute or less), with high precision and sensitivity, so it is very suitable for the analysis of on-the spot sample in metallurgy. In recent years with the fast development of optical fiber, on-line analysis of liquid steel and dynamical control of metallurgical processing will come true by using this instrument.