Infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of ions in Penning traps

TLDR

Paul and Penning traps can hold ions for milliseconds to minutes, enabling extended laser irradiation, and the advent of tunable infrared sources such as FELs and OPOs now permits full chemically relevant IR spectra of ions from small hydrocarbons to multiply charged proteins. This review describes experiments in which tunable infrared lasers are used to irradiate ions in Penning traps. Infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) uses low‑powered tunable IR lasers to induce ion fragmentation; monitoring fragmentation versus wavelength yields action spectra, and the review covers studies from early CO₂ laser work to recent FEL and OPO/As experiments.

Abstract

The ability of Paul and Penning traps to contain ions for time periods ranging from milliseconds to minutes allows the trapped ions to be subjected to laser irradiation for extended lengths of time. In this way, relatively low-powered tunable infrared lasers can be used to induce ion fragmentation when a sufficient number of infrared photons are absorbed, a process known as infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD). If ion fragmentation is monitored as a function of laser wavelength, a photodissociation action spectrum can be obtained. The development of widely tunable infrared laser sources, in particular free electron lasers (FELs) and optical parametric oscillators/amplifiers (OPO/As), now allows spectra of trapped ions to be obtained for the entire "chemically relevant" infrared spectral region. This review describes experiments in which tunable infrared lasers have been used to irradiate ions in Penning traps. Early studies which utilized tunable carbon dioxide lasers with a limited output range are first reviewed. More recent studies with either FEL or OPO/A irradiation sources are then covered. The ionic systems examined have ranged from small hydrocarbons to multiply charged proteins, and they are discussed in approximate order of increasing complexity.