Desorption and fragmentation studies of organic molecules by laser-induced mass spectrometry

Abstract

Desorption, fragmentation, and cationization of a variety of organic molecules using a laser mass spectrometer are described. At low laser power densities, desorption of organic molecules takes place. With progressively higher laser power densities, fragmentation characteristic of molecular structure occurs and at very high laser power densities, indiscriminate fragmentation occurs. It is also possible to observe parent peaks from mixtures of organic molecules without any fragmentation.