Temporal evolution of the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy spectrum of aluminum metal in different bath gases

The spectral emission of gas-phase aluminum and aluminum oxide was measured during and immediately after exposure of a bulk-aluminum sample to a laser-induced spark produced by a focused, pulsed laser beam (Nd:YAG, 10-ns pulse duration, 35 mJ/pulse, lambda=1064 nm). The spectral emission was measured as a function of time after the onset of the laser pulse, and it was also measured in different bath gases (air, nitrogen, oxygen, and helium).