Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy to Characterize Individual Marine Phytoplankton

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The PIs propose is to test the feasibility of developing a LIBS flow cytometer for the study of plankton populations. Ultimately the goal would be to integrate a multi-laser flow cytometer a high spectral resolution fiber optic LIBS system. Initially they will assemble a skeleton flow cytometer from components in their lab to be combined with a commercial LIBS system. Experiments will be set up to answer the following questions: 1) will the flow cell be damaged by a LIBS laser pulse powerful enough to generate the required plasma? 2) do bubbles from the plasma generation disrupt the flow so severely as to prevent subsequent measurements? and 3) can the LIBS system detect single phytoplankton cells above background seawater signals? The results will determine how to proceed with the next phase.