Ultratrace detection of chemical warfare agent simulants using supersonic-molecular-beam, resonance-enhanced multiphoton-ionization, time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Final report
An ultratrace detection method that offers exceptional selectivity has been developed based on the technique of supersonic molecular beam, resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization, time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MB/REMPI/TOFMS). Single ion detection capability has given detection limits as low as 300 ppt (dimethyl sulfide). Single vibronic level REMPI of the supercooled molecules in conjunction with TOFMS provides selectivity of 10,000 against chemically similar compounds. Studies were carried out using moist air expansions for a variety of organophosphonate and sulfide chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant molecules. The preparation of molecules in single vibronic levels by laser excitation in supersonic molecular beams has enabled us to record high resolution spectra of higher excited electronic states showing fully resolved vibrational structure for diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS). VUV absorption spectra have also been recorded for several CWA molecules at ambient temperature, revealing several new electronic states extending up to the ionization threshold.
- Research Organization:
- Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA (USA). Aerophysics Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6910436
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-193206/0/XAB; TR-0086A(2908)-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
400102* -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ALKYL RADICALS
BEAMS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
DETECTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
IONIZATION
IONS
LASERS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METHYL RADICALS
MOLECULAR BEAMS
MOLECULES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHONATES
PHOTOIONIZATION
PROGRESS REPORT
RADICALS
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
WEAPONS