Ultrasensitive, isotopically selective detection of nitric oxide by multiphoton ionization in a supersonic beam

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00121a022· OSTI ID:5498081

Miller, J C

Multiphoton ionization of nitric oxide expanded in a supersonic nozzle has been investigated. Isotopic selectivity is demonstrated by both wavelength selection and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Sensitivity arises from the resonantly enhanced three-photon ionization of an ultracold nitric oxide beam (approx. 1 K). By use of this technique, /sup 15/N/sup 16/O, /sup 14/N/sup 18/O, and /sup 15/N/sup 18/O are detected in a natural abundance sample of nominally /sup 14/N/sup 16/O. It is shown that on the average as few as 10/sup 3/-10/sup 4/ molecules of /sup 15/N/sup 18/O can be detected in a single laser shot. The extension of this work to single-molecule detection is discussed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5498081
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 58:8; ISSN ANCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400104* -- Spectral Procedures-- (-1987)
ABSORPTION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DATA
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUID FLOW
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
ISOTOPE EFFECTS
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MULTI-PHOTON PROCESSES
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN 14
NITROGEN 15
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NITROGEN OXIDES
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN 16
OXYGEN 18
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RESONANCE ABSORPTION
RESONANCE IONIZATION MASS SPECTROSCOPY
SPECTRAL SHIFT
SPECTROMETERS
SPECTROSCOPY
STABLE ISOTOPES
SUPERSONIC FLOW
TIME-OF-FLIGHT SPECTROMETERS
TRACE AMOUNTS