title: Plume characteristics and dynamics of UV and IR laser-desorbed oligonucleotides.
abstract: Laser desorption of dye-tagged oligonucleotides was studied using laser-induced fluorescence imaging. Desorption with ultra violet (UV) and infra-red (IR) lasers resulted in forward directed plumes of molecules. In the case of UV desorption, the initial shot desorbed approximately seven-fold more material than subsequent shots. In contrast, the initial shot in IR desorption resulted in the ejection of less material compared to subsequent shots and these plumes had a component directed along the path of the laser. Thermal equilibrium of the molecules in the plume was achieved after approximately 25 μs with a spread in molecular temperature which was described by a modified Maxwell-Boltzmann equation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Tony L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Merrigan
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Timson
authors.forename: C Adam
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hunniford
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catney
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: McCullough
mesh_terms: D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides