Application of Tunable, Ultrafast Lasers to Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometry
EMSL Project ID
1645
Abstract
We propose to use ion-trap mass spectrometry, capitalizing on the asymmetric trap design developed by Dr. Alexander, to study ion and neutral atom and molecule emission under laser irradiation in the near-infrared (out to roughly 3,000 nm). The major application lies in understanding the branching ratio between ion and neutral species desorbed by laser irradiation of matrix materials commonly used in matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Understanding the dynamics of the process and the ion-neutral fraction will enable us to resolve one of the central outstanding problems of MALDI in the infrared, namely, the ionization mechanism. By using a combination of ultrashort pulse Ti:sapphire and ns-pulse tunable laser sources, we expect to be able to clarify the roles played by wavelength and pulse duration in the LDI process.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
1999-07-30
End Date
2002-09-09
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator