The first years of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been developed since the invention of the laser in 1960. The push from analytical companies from the beginning started a huge scientific adventure combining analytical science, plasma physics engineering and commercialization that still is in place fifty years later. This historical review of the first five years of laser-based micro-spectrochemical analysis introduces the first measurements and systems for laser micro-analysis and its evolution to conventional LIBS. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been developed since the invention of the laser in 1960.