title: The Coupled Chemical and Physical Dynamics Model of MALDI.
abstract: The coupled physical and chemical dynamics model of ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) has reproduced and explained a wide variety of MALDI phenomena. The rationale behind and elements of the model are reviewed, including the photophysics, kinetics, and thermodynamics of primary and secondary reaction steps. Experimental results are compared with model predictions to illustrate the foundations of the model, coupling of ablation and ionization, differences between and commonalities of matrices, secondary charge transfer reactions, ionization in both polarities, fluence and concentration dependencies, and suppression and enhancement effects.
authors.affiliation: Departement für Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; email: rknochenmuss@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knochenmuss
keywords: MALDI; coupled physical and chemical dynamics model; exciton pooling; ion-molecule reactions; ionization mechanisms