Gas-Phase Studies of Chromophore Molecules in an Electrostatic Storage Ring

Abstract

The use of an electrostatic storage ring for the study of chromophore ions in the gas phase is demonstrated. In this way the intrinsic photophysics and photochemistry of “naked” chromophore ions without the “disturbance” of a solvation shell is elucidated. The ring is combined with an electrospray ion source which enables the production of large molecular ions. Experiments described here involve absorption spectroscopy of protein chromophores and measurements of lifetimes for dissociation processes and excited states of nucleotide and protoporphyrin ions. Comparisons with solution phase experiments allow us to address the perturbation of a solvent or a protein environment on the electronic structure of chromophores.