Hydrogen isotope detection in metal matrix using double-pulse laser-induced breakdown-spectroscopy

The amount of hydrogen isotopes retained in plasma facing components (PFCs) and the determination of their surface layer composition are among the most critical issues for the next generation fusion device, ITER, under construction in Cadarache (France). Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is currently under evaluation as a technique suitable for quantitative, in situ, non-invasive measurements of these quantities. In order to detect traces of contaminant in metallic samples and improve its limit of detection (LOD), the Double Pulse LIBS (DPLIBS) variant can be used instead of the standard Single Pulse LIBS (SP-LIBS), as it has been proven by several authors that DP-LIBS can considerably raise the analytical performances of the technique. In this work Mo samples coated with a 1.5-1.8 mu m thick W-Al mixed layer, contaminated with co-deposited deuterium (D) were measured by SP- and DP-LIBS under vacuum (p similar to 5 x 10(-5) mbar), with an experimental set-up simulating conditions that can be found in a real fusion device between plasma discharges. A partial Calibration Free procedure (pCF) was applied to the LIBS data in order to retrieve the relative concentration of W and Al in the mixed layer. The amount of deuterium was then inferred by using tungsten as internal standard, accounting for the intensity ratio between the D alpha line and nearby W I lines. The results are in satisfactory agreement with those obtained from preliminary Ion Beam Analysis measurements performed immediately after the specimen's realization. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.