Patent ID: 9694447
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B23K,G01N,G02B

Claim:
1. A sample changer and laser ablation system for sequentially ablating at least two solid samples or at least two solid targets, in which the laser ablation system comprises a laser, a laser-focusing objective optic, and a sample changer, in which the sample changer is for sequentially placing the solid samples or solid targets in proximity to a focal plane of the laser-focusing objective optic, and in which a focused beam of the laser focused by the laser-focusing objective optic is for removing, by optical ablation, a portion of solid material from the surface of the solid sample or solid target for purposes of altering the shape or topography of the target, or for purposes of obtaining vapors, smoke, and/or particulate aerosol from a laser ablation event occurring on the surface of the solid sample at a focused laser beam irradiance exceeding a surface damage threshold of the solid samples or targets, in which the solid sample or target is selected from a group of samples or targets consisting of solid samples to be analyzed by laser ablation, solid standard calibration materials to be used in calibrating the laser ablation analysis of the solid samples, and solid targets to undergo laser micro-machining; wherein the laser ablation occurs within the perimeter of a laser spot of the proximally focused laser beam impinging on the solid sample or target, and wherein laser ablation of the solid sample to be analyzed by laser ablation is for producing a plume that rises from the solid sample surface, in which the plume is selected from at least one among the group consisting of a plume of vapors, a plume of smoke, and a plume of particulate aerosol from a laser ablation event occurring on the surface of the solid sample, and in which the plume can rise within a windowed ablation cell containing the sample or receiving the plume, and in which a carrier gas stream flowing through the ablation cell is for mixing with the plume and for sweeping it out to exit the ablation cell, and in which the plume-laden carrier gas stream is for transporting from the windowed ablation cell to an external analytical instrument selected from among the group of external analytical instruments consisting of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometer, an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), and a flowing after-glow (FAG) mass spectrometer (FAG-MS), and in which the external analytical instrument is capable of providing analysis of the plume-laden carrier gas stream, in which the analysis is selected from a group consisting of chemical analysis and elemental analysis, and in which the analysis of a plume-laden carrier gas stream is for yielding at least one result that is at least partially representative of a composition of a solid sample; and in which the solid sample changer is for placing a first solid sample or target, selected from a group of the solid samples or the solid targets, consisting of at least one solid sample to be analyzed, at least one solid standard calibration material, and at least one solid target material to undergo laser micro-machining, in proximity to the windowed ablation cell and/or in proximity to the focal plane of the laser-focusing objective optic, and in which said solid sample changer is for removing said first solid sample or target after laser ablation analysis or laser micromachining, and in which said solid sample changer is then for placing at least a second solid sample or target in proximity to said windowed ablation cell and/or in proximity to said focal plane.