MIKIO KUZUYA, PROFESSOR
 B.Eng. Nagoya University, 1975
 Ph.D.  Nagoya University, 1983

Dr. Kuzuya's research is concerned with the analytical applications of lasers. A high-power laser beam, such as a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser focused onto the surface of the sample ablates and atmoizes a small amount of sample, and induces a luminous plasma which consists of neutral and charged particles (atoms, molecules, ions, and electrons). The laser-induced plasmas are used as the sources for optical emission spectrometry (LMA-OES) and mass spectrometry (LMA-MS). Most work in his laboratory concentrates on the development/improvement of Laser Microprobe Analysis(LMA) system, such as LMA-OES and LMA-MS. LMA is one of several methods for direct chemical analysis of solids and has unique capabilities of analyzing microareas of any type of material, including electically nonconductive materials, without sample preparation.

Brief contents:

LMA-OES: Analysis method for determinations of the concentrations of chemical elements of samples by spectrally resolving the light from the laser-induced plasma. In order to improve the analytical performance, the effects of the ambient atmosphere(kinds, pressure) and the laser(energy, focusing) on the emission characteristics of the laser-induced plasma are being studied by using time- and space-resolved spectroscopy.

LMA-MS: Two types of laser mass spectrometric methods are being studied. (1)Laser Ablation Mass Spectrometry(LAMS) is a combination of laser ablation of sample materials, electron inoization of atoms and molecules, and mass spectrometric seperation technique. (2)Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometry(LIMS) is based on the ionization of atoms and molecules in a microplasma produced by the irradiation of a high-power laser. Gas-phase ions are analyzed by mass spectroscopy.

Recently, we have initated studies of Laser Microprobe Gas Chromatography(LM-GC) which uses a laser as a fragmentation source for gas chromatography. This method is applicable to direct analysis of nonvolatile samples.

Peripheral instruments and system for LMA described below are being designed and constructed in our laboratory.

 1. Pulse generator for controlling the timing of the LMA system
 2. Laser energy monitor
 3. Stepping motor driver
 4. Plasma monitor system with a CCD video camera and a digital image processing computer
 5. Software for data processing  
 6. Data acquisition system using A/D converter
 7. Other electronic circuits
    (Design of the pattern of electronic circuit is carried out    by using CAD system)  

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