Enhancement of Molecular Ions in Mass Spectrometry Using an Ultrashort Optical Pulse in Multiphoton Ionization

Abstract

The spectral domain of an ultraviolet femtosecond laser was expanded by stimulated Raman scattering/four-wave Raman mixing, and the resulting laser pulse was compressed using a pair of gratings. The pulse width was then measured using an autocorrelator comprised of a Michelson interferometer equipped with a multiphoton ionization/mass spectrometer which was used as a two-photon detector. A gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer was employed to analyze triacetone triperoxide (TATP), and the molecular ion induced by multiphoton ionization was substantially enhanced by decreasing the laser pulse width.