Abstract

Pulsed laser desorption is used as a means of volatilizing nonvolatile and thermally labile molecules for entrainment into a supersonic jet expansion. The jet expansion provides ultracold molecules whose sharp spectral features are probed by resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Such jet-cooled spectra are demonstrated for tyrosine and related structural analogs. Despite the similarity between these tyrosine-based compounds, electronic spectroscopy is shown to be a sensitive probe of small structural changes in these related biological compounds.

Ultrasensitive detection of atmospheric constituents by supersonic molecular beam, multiphoton ionization, mass spectroscopy

Jack A. Syage, James E. Pollard, and Ronald B. Cohen
Appl. Opt. 26(17) 3516-3520 (1987)

Molecular analysis by ionization of laser-desorbed neutral species

Keith R. Lykke, Peter Wurz, Deborah H. Parker, and Michael J. Pellin
Appl. Opt. 32(6) 857-866 (1993)

Development of a jet–REMPI (resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization) continuous monitor for environmental applications

Harald Oser, Michael J. Coggiola, Gregory W. Faris, Steve E. Young, Bengt Volquardsen, and David R. Crosley
Appl. Opt. 40(6) 859-865 (2001)

Production of the NO photofragment in the desorption of RDX and HMX from surfaces

Jason D. White, F. Ahu Akin, Harald Oser, and David R. Crosley
Appl. Opt. 50(1) 74-81 (2011)

Pulsed-laser-induced desorption from metal surfaces

Peter C. Stair and Eric Weitz
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4(2) 255-260 (1987)