Patent ID: 8319964

Claim:
An apparatus for producing atomic emission, comprising: a target holder, wherein the target holder is adapted to hold a target, wherein the target comprises target material; at least one laser, wherein the at least one laser is configured to generate a first laser beam pulse, wherein the first laser beam pulse is directed to the target to create an ablation event so as to produce an ablation plume of target material; and a transport system, wherein the transport system transports at least a portion of the ablation plume of target material a distance d from the ablation event, wherein the at least one laser is configured to generate a second laser beam pulse, wherein the second laser beam pulse is directed to the at least a portion of the ablation plume of target material transported a distance d from the ablation event to produce an analytical plasma, such that one or more elements of the at least a portion of the ablation plume of target material undergo atomic emission, wherein d is sufficiently large that the analytical plasma is uncoupled from the ablation event, wherein the transportation system comprises a flowing carrier gas.