Custom Setup for LIBS Plasma Imaging in simulated Martian Conditions

Abstract

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) permits rapid in-situ multi-elemental analysis without sample preparation and with optical access only. It has been proven to be a very useful technique for in-situ geochemical analysis of the surface of Mars. The pressure and composition of the ambient gas affect the formation, the evolution, and the emission of the laser-induced plasma. The reduced plasma confinement is expected to lead to a higher relevance of dynamic processes within the plasma and of temperature gradients within the plasma. We have developed a custom plasma imaging setup which allows us to investigate laser-induced plasmas in simulated Martian atmospheric conditions. Our goal is to provide a better understanding of the particular characteristics of Martian LIBS plasmas, their dynamics and typical spatial and temporal evolution by means of time-resolved plasma imaging.