An apparatus for handling target material removed from a laser ablation site of a target, the apparatus comprising: a sample capture cell including: a capture cavity having an opening formed in a surface at a first region of the capture cell, wherein the capture cavity is configured to receive, through the opening, target material ejected or generated from the laser ablation site when the surface faces toward the target and the sample capture cell is spaced apart from the target by a distance of 1 mm or less; a first inlet extending from the capture cavity to an exterior of the sample capture cell defining a front end region, wherein the first inlet is configured to transmit a flow of a carrier gas along a first direction at least substantially parallel to the surface of the target from a first location adjacent to the exterior of the sample capture cell into the capture cavity; an outlet in fluid communication with the capture cavity and configured to receive, from the capture cavity, the carrier gas and at least a portion of the removed target material; a second inlet extending from the capture cavity to an upper surface of the exterior of the sample capture cell, wherein the second inlet is configured to transmit a second flow of the carrier gas along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from a second location adjacent to the exterior of the capture cell into the capture cavity, wherein the second inlet and the capture cavity are configured such that laser light is transmittable through the second inlet and the capture cavity and onto a region of the target when the sample capture cell is spaced apart from the target by a distance of 1 mm or less; and a guide wall exposed within the capture cavity and configured to direct a flow of the carrier gas within the capture cavity between the first inlet and the outlet such that at least a portion of the target material received within the capture cavity are transferrable into the outlet as a sample. a sample capture cell including: a capture cavity having an opening formed in a surface at a first region of the capture cell, wherein the capture cavity is configured to receive, through the opening, target material ejected or generated from the laser ablation site when the surface faces toward the target and the sample capture cell is spaced apart from the target by a distance of 1 mm or less; a first inlet extending from the capture cavity to an exterior of the sample capture cell defining a front end region, wherein the first inlet is configured to transmit a flow of a carrier gas along a first direction at least substantially parallel to the surface of the target from a first location adjacent to the exterior of the sample capture cell into the capture cavity; an outlet in fluid communication with the capture cavity and configured to receive, from the capture cavity, the carrier gas and at least a portion of the removed target material; a second inlet extending from the capture cavity to an upper surface of the exterior of the sample capture cell, wherein the second inlet is configured to transmit a second flow of the carrier gas along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from a second location adjacent to the exterior of the capture cell into the capture cavity, wherein the second inlet and the capture cavity are configured such that laser light is transmittable through the second inlet and the capture cavity and onto a region of the target when the sample capture cell is spaced apart from the target by a distance of 1 mm or less; and a capture cavity having an opening formed in a surface at a first region of the capture cell, wherein the capture cavity is configured to receive, through the opening, target material ejected or generated from the laser ablation site when the surface faces toward the target and the sample capture cell is spaced apart from the target by a distance of 1 mm or less; a first inlet extending from the capture cavity to an exterior of the sample capture cell defining a front end region, wherein the first inlet is configured to transmit a flow of a carrier gas along a first direction at least substantially parallel to the surface of the target from a first location adjacent to the exterior of the sample capture cell into the capture cavity; an outlet in fluid communication with the capture cavity and configured to receive, from the capture cavity, the carrier gas and at least a portion of the removed target material; a second inlet extending from the capture cavity to an upper surface of the exterior of the sample capture cell, wherein the second inlet is configured to transmit a second flow of the carrier gas along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from a second location adjacent to the exterior of the capture cell into the capture cavity, wherein the second inlet and the capture cavity are configured such that laser light is transmittable through the second inlet and the capture cavity and onto a region of the target when the sample capture cell is spaced apart from the target by a distance of 1 mm or less; and a guide wall exposed within the capture cavity and configured to direct a flow of the carrier gas within the capture cavity between the first inlet and the outlet such that at least a portion of the target material received within the capture cavity are transferrable into the outlet as a sample.