An apparatus and a method are disclosed for use with Laser Induced Breakdown
Spectroscopy
(LIBS) systems that can be applied to the real time analysis of molten materials
or liquid. Since it is difficult to prepare a surface representative of the bulk
when dealing with high temperature molten material, the invention, in one aspect,
uses a forced gas flow through a tube insertable inside the molten material to
generate a bubble. The inner surface of the bubble is a representative of the composition
of the material. LIBS performed on such a surface produces an accurate real time
analysis of material, even when other processing of material, e.g., copper smelting,
etc., is being conducted.
