Early plume and shock wave dynamics in atmospheric-pressure ultraviolet-laser ablation of different matrix-assisted laser ablation matrices

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3592651· OSTI ID:21538428

Schmitz, Thomas A; Koch, Joachim; Guenther, Detlef; Zenobi, Renato ^[1]

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1. Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zuerich, 8093 Zuerich (Switzerland)

Pulsed laser ablation of molecular solids is important for identification and quantification in (bio-)organic mass spectrometry, for example using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Recently, there has been a major shift to using MALDI and related laser ablation/post-ionization methods at atmospheric pressure. However, the underlying laser ablation processes, in particular early plume formation and expansion, are still poorly understood. Here, we present a study of the early ablation processes on the ns-time scale in atmospheric pressure UV-laser ablation of anthracene as well as of different common MALDI matrices such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB), {alpha}-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and sinapinic acid. Material release as well as the formation and expansion of hemi-spherical shock waves were studied by shadowgraphy with high temporal resolution ({approx}5 ns). The applicability of the classical Taylor-Sedov model for expansion of strong shock waves ('point-blast model'), as well as the drag force model, were evaluated to mathematically describe the observed shock wave propagation. The time- and energy-dependent expansion of the shock waves could be described using a Taylor-Sedov scaling law of the form R {proportional_to} t{sup q}, when a q-exponent of {approx}0.5 instead of the theoretical value of q 0.4 was found, indicating a faster expansion than expected. The deviations from the ideal value of q were attributed to the non-negligible influence of ambient pressure, a weak versus strong shock regime, and additional acceleration processes present in laser ablation that surpass the limit of the point-blast model. The onset of shock wave formation at a fluence of {approx}15-30 mJ/cm{sup 2} for the compounds investigated coincides with the onset of bulk material release, whereas, pure desorption below this fluence threshold did not lead to features visible in shadowgraphy.

• OSTI ID: 21538428
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 109, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3592651; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABLATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENERGY DEPENDENCE
EXPANSION
EXPLOSIONS
IONIZATION
LASER RADIATION
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATRICES
MATRIX MATERIALS
ORGANIC MATTER
RESOLUTION
SCALING LAWS
SHOCK WAVES
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WAVE PROPAGATION
CONFIGURATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EVALUATION
MATERIALS
MATTER
RADIATIONS
SPECTROSCOPY