Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Optimization of Tropical Hardwoods
| Author(s) | Carson, Wesley | |
| Date Accessioned | 2024-06-12T17:33:22Z | |
| Date Available | 2024-06-12T17:33:22Z | |
| Publication Date | 2024-05 | |
| Abstract | Handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is being implemented to conveniently and effectively distinguish between various tropical hardwoods, a step toward combating illegal timber trade at ports of entry. A key parameter for LIBS analysis is the delay time between the laser pulse and spectral collection. Short delays yield more information-rich spectra with high noise while longer delays sacrifice information for a more stable spectrum. Currently, LIBS handheld spectrometers are designed for alloy and mineral classification, so the acquisition settings for the non traditional - tropical hardwood – analysis should be re-optimized. A subset of 23 species of hardwood were analyzed using various delay inputs, a collection parameter that dictates when sample plasma is analyzed by the instrument’s detectors. The factory default setting for the LIBS handheld is 650 nanoseconds. Optimizing for these organic samples shows that a delay time between 250 and 370 nanoseconds yields a significant improvement in multivariate analysis of the collected spectra as evidenced in the increased accuracy of classification models. This improvement is demonstrated on a set of 280 exotic hardwood exemplars. This is meaningful for agencies such as the US Forestry Service (USFS) because it advises that imported hardwoods can be successfully identified in the field by handheld instrumentation such as LIBS. | |
| Advisor | enter | |
| Program | enter | |
| URL | https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/34497 | |
| Language | en_US | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | |
| Title | Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Optimization of Tropical Hardwoods | |
| Type | Thesis |