Abstract: A laser ablation system, and method, facilitates the execution of user-defined scans (i.e., in which a laser beam is scanned across a sample along a beam trajectory to ablate or dissociate a portion of the sample) and enables the user define additional scans while a scan is being executed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.

Abstract: An ablation system for ablating a material can include a laser source, a set of homogenizing optics, and a homogenizing optics adjustment device. The laser source is for generating a laser beam. The set of homogenizing optics receives the laser beam and includes a first homogenizer and a second homogenizer. The homogenizing optics adjustment device carries the homogenizing optics, the homogenizing optics adjustment device configured to selectably adjust the position of at least one of the first homogenizer and the second homogenizer in order change a size of the laser beam, with a change in size of the beam changing the fluence thereof. The ablation system can be incorporated within a laser-ablation based analytical system, where the laser-ablation based analytical system includes a spectrometer.

Abstract: A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.

Abstract: A laser-ablation-based analytical system can include a sample chamber input, a make-up gas input, a vacuum pump, and an output flow. The sample chamber input can be configured to deliver a sample chamber gas flow comprised of combination of a laser-ablated sample and a sample-carrier gas from a sample chamber. The make-up gas input can be configured to provide an amount of make-up gas to supplement the combination of the laser-ablated sample and the sample-carrier gas. The vacuum pump can be fluidly connected to the sample chamber input and the make-up gas input, the vacuum pump configured to create a negative pressure in a sample transport gas downstream of the vacuum pump, the sample transport gas including the make-up gas, the laser-ablated sample, and the sample-carrier gas. The output flow can be configured to deliver the sample transport gas from the vacuum pump to a detection device.

Abstract: In a laser assisted spectroscopy system, an apparatus for bypassing the fluid conduit and a method of bypassing the fluid conduit, opening the sample chamber and replacing the sample, closing and purging the sample chamber, and removing the fluid conduit bypass and returning to online status is addressed by the present disclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an adjustable sample floor for ultrafast signal washout are disclosed. In an embodiment. A target support configured to adjustably support a target within a sample chamber may include: a support frame that may configured to be inserted into the sample chamber, a support platform that may be disposed within the support frame, and a platform adjustment system that may be coupled to the support frame and the support platform. The platform adjustment system may be configured to adjust at least one of: a position and an orientation of the support platform relative to the support frame when the support frame is inserted into the sample chamber.

Abstract: A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.

Abstract: A sampling apparatus (100) employs a cell-positioning system to move a sample capture cell (138) relative to a specimen positioning system (124). The cell-positioning system may be controlled to move sample capture cell (138) opposite to movement of the specimen positioning system (124) to maintain alignment of the sample capture cell (138) with an optical path of a laser beam of a sample generator (108). Alternatively or additionally, the cell-positioning system may be controlled to move sample capture cell (138) in response to alignment deviation of a reference beam on a quadrant detector (404).

Abstract: A laser ablation system includes a sample chamber 102 configured to accommodate a target 104 within an interior 106 thereof, a sample generator 108 configured to remove a portion of the target 104 (which may be subsequently captured as a sample) and an analysis system 110 configured to analyze a composition of the sample. A sample capture cell in the chamber proximate to the target has a capture cavity configured to receive target material, a first inlet configured to transmit a flow of a carrier gas from a first location adjacent to an exterior of the capture cell into a region of the capture cavity; and an outlet configured to receive carrier gas from another region of the capture cavity. The sample chamber 102 includes an injection nozzle 120 configured to introduce, into the interior 106, a fluid such as a carrier gas.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention exemplarily described herein relate generally to saving XYZ stage coordinates for intended laser locations as well as a kernel image of an ablation pattern placed during a scan placement process, and comparing the kernel image to a current image of the current field of view of a camera/microscope that includes the location a laser would be fired at. This comparison is used during an experimental run to correct for any built up error. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatuses and methods for software based image recognition to correct errors in open looped systems for positioning a sample relative to a laser in analysis systems for zircon crystal grain dating.