This book offers a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the area of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), focusing on its application to biological, forensic and materials sciences. LIBS, which was previously mainly used by physicists, chemists and in the industry, has now become a very useful tool with great potential in these other fields as well. LIBS has a unique set of characteristics including minimal destructiveness, remote sensing capabilities, potential portability, extremely high information content, trace analytical sensitivity and high throughput. With its content divided into two main parts, this book provides not only an introduction to the analytical capabilities and methodology, but also an overview of the results of recent applications in the above fields. The application-oriented, multidisciplinary approach of this work is also reflected in the diversity of the expert contributors. Given its breadth, this book will appeal to students, researchers and professionals interested in solving analytical/diagnostic/material characterization tasks with the application of LIBS.

Starting from fundamentals and moving through a thorough discussion of equipment, methods, and techniques, this text provides a unique reference source for this important new analysis method. The authors use a combination of tutorial discussions ranging from basic principles up to more advanced descriptions along with extensive figures and photographs to clearly explain topics addressed in the text. It is intended that the data tables will be located within the Education section of SpectroscopyNOW.com Provides a thorough but understandable discussion of the basic principles, instrumentation, methodology, and sampling procedures of the method based on atomic emission spectroscopy. Presents a discussion of the many advantages of the method along with limitations, to provide the reader a balanced overview of capabilities of the method Presents an overview of some real-world applications of the method Provides an up-to-date list of references to LIBS literature and a unique list of element detection limits using a uniform analysis method

The book describes the main physical processes and phenomena in pulsed electric breakdown. The knowledge and the control of the electric breakdown of liquids is important not only for the insulation inside power systems but it is also used for the creation and information of high voltage and high current pulses. Such high-voltage micro- and nanosecond pulses find wide application in experimental physics, electro discharge technology, physics of dielectrics, radar detection and ranging, high-speed photography.

Originally published in 1934, excerpts from the original preface read: "A Nervous breakdown is a terrifying experience. When it occurs, the patient, his family, and often his friends are panic-stricken. No one knows just what to do with the patient, and the patient is incapable of helping himself. ... What should be done? If you think you have a nervous breakdown, it is your first duty to consult a competent and reputable physician, preferably your family doctor, and get a thorough and complete physical examination. If you cannot find any evidence of physical or organic disease, ask your doctor to recommend a reputable psychiatrist or medical psychologist. ...This is a compact manual of help and self-help." Today this book can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

Among the results noted from a supersonic flight of a Nike-Cajun Rocket were: (1) the suggestion of influence of solar illumination on the breakdown of an X-band slot antenna, and (2) the presence of anomalous high-altitude breakdown. To corroborate these findings, Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories launched a second Nike-Cajun Rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia, on 2 October, 1967. A strong influence of solar radiation on both the breakdown probability and duration was confirmed. The anomalous high-altitude breakdown phenomenon was absent. This report presents a statistical analysis of the voltage breakdown results gathered from the second flight, and develops a possible explanation for the observed phenomena based upon local emission of photoelectrons under solar illumination. The expected yield of electrons is shown to be strongly dependent upon the surface work function due to selective filtering of sunlight by the ozone layer. (Author).