Standoff Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Recent Developments and Instrumentation

Over the past few decades, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has made significant technical advancements in material characterization. While conventional methods such as ICP-MS and AAS offer much higher sensitivity and lower detection limits than LIBS, they are limited by their laboratory-bound nature. These conventional techniques often fail to analyse materials in environments that are inaccessible or hostile to humans, such as in space exploration or remote, hazardous locations. To address these challenges, researchers have focused on integrating remote sensing with spectroscopic methods, leading to innovative approaches like remote LIBS. This technique is currently considered the only viable option for conducting effective remote elemental analysis. This chapter highlights the recent developments in remote LIBS, with a particular focus on advancements in spectroscopic instrumentation.