CellSpace: A module for creating spatially registered laser ablation images within the Iolite freeware environment

Abstract

We present a novel approach to creating compositional images using a module created for use with the freely distributed software package Iolite. The module creates images by synchronising the state of the laser (e.g., whether the laser is firing or not) and the position on the sample, which are recorded in laser log files, with concurrently collected mass spectrometer data. When these two data sources are synchronised, mass spectrometer data which are recorded temporally can then be displayed versus ablation position (i.e., spatially). Each mass spectrometer reading is then plotted as a circular spot representing the size of the area ablated. This approach has many advantages. CellSpace take..