Abstract

To understand the laser desorption process for large molecules, one needs information about the neutral species that are formed. For absorbing dye molecules, this can be accomplished by imaging the plume over its lifetime of a few milliseconds with a probe laser. Using this novel technique, we have investigated the dependence of the formation of neutral gas-phase dye molecules on vaporization laser power. It is clear that destruction of the chromophore (fragmentation) occurs even at low vaporization powers.

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)

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)

Spatial distribution characteristics of plasma plume on attenuation of laser radiation under subatmospheric pressure

Yan Luo, Xinhua Tang, Fenggui Lu, Qintao Chen, and Haichao Cui
Appl. Opt. 54(5) 1090-1096 (2015)

Surface profiling of lithium with a laser-desorption mass-spectrometer microprobe

Grant A. Bickel and Harry M. Adams
Appl. Opt. 38(9) 1488-1493 (1999)