title: A novel experimental system of high stability and lifetime for the laser-desorption of biomolecules.
abstract: A novel laser desorption system, with improved signal stability and extraordinary long lifetime, is presented for the study of jet-cooled biomolecules in the gas phase using vibrationally resolved photoionization spectroscopy. As a test substance tryptophane is used to characterize this desorption source. A usable lifetime of above 1 month (for a laser desorption repetition rate of 20 Hz) has been observed by optimizing the pellets (graphite/tryptophane, 3 mm diameter and 6 mm length) from which the substance is laser-desorbed. Additionally, the stability and signal-to-noise ratio has been improved by averaging the signal over the entire sample pellet by synchronizing the data acquisition with the rotation of the sample rod. The results demonstrate how a combination of the above helps to produce stable and conclusive spectra of tryptophane using one-color and two-color resonant two-photon ionization studies.
authors.affiliation: The Photon Science Institute, The University of Manchester, Alan Turing Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taherkhani
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riese
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: BenYezzar
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Müller-Dethlefs
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D007834:Lasers; D012399:Rotation; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D006108:Graphite; D014364:Tryptophan