Branching Ratio Method for Assessing Optically Thin Conditions in Laser-Induced Plasmas

Abstract

The branching ratio method is usually used to evaluate the optical thinness conditions in laser-generated plasmas, whichare important for the application of analytical methods such calibration free laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CFLIBS).In this communication, we warn on the possibility that in some circumstances, the branching-ratio method mightgive results close to the one characterizing optically thin plasma conditions, even in the presence of a substantial selfabsorptionfor the transitions considered.