Laser microprobe mass analysis: achievements and aspects

After a short review of the general state of the art of laser microprobe analysis, recent achievements of the laser microprobe mass analyzer (LAMMA) are presented. The Lamma-instrument, which was primarily developed for biomedical purposes has been recently used on a large variety of specimens: biological, technical, organic and inorganic in nature. Detection limits, mass resolution and reproducibility have been improved so that for many elements measurements can be extended down to the subppm range. For bulk analysis a separate version of the LAMMA-instrument has been developed. The examples of LAMMA-applications given in this paper include muscle tissue (physiological cations), uterine tissue (Fe), retina tissues (Na, Mg, K, Ca and Ba), airborne particles (Pb, Fe, Al, Ti, Mn, Ca, Zn), cerebral tissue (Li), a fluorinated drug, pure crystalline organic materials (including nicotinic acid) and a selection of non biological materials (for instance thin films).