Hollow-core optical fiber-based laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique for the elemental analysis of pulverized coal

The present study proposed and demonstrated the feasibility of the fiber-based LIBS technique for the analysis of pulverized coal. A hollow-core fiber was employed to replace the air medium in the conventional LIBS setup for the delivery of high-power laser pulses to the target. It was observed that the hollow-core fiber could effectively deliver the laser energy for target ablation with a transmission efficiency of 50–60%. The LIBS spectra captured using the fiber LIBS technique prove that the addition of hollow-core fiber can upgrade the conventional LIBS technique into a remote characterization unit. Convincing results were obtained in terms of quantitative carbon measurement using the proposed approach.