497 multiphoton ionization

Baumert T, Engel V, Meier Ch and Gerber G 1992 High laser field effects in multiphoton ionization of Na2 -experiment and quantum calculations Chem. Rhys. Lett. 200 488... 

Another example of a teclmique for detecting absorption of laser radiation in gaseous samples is to use multiphoton ionization with mtense pulses of light. Once a molecule has been electronically excited, the excited state may absorb one or more additional photons until it is ionized. The electrons can be measured as a current generated across the cell, or can be counted individually by an electron multiplier this can be a very sensitive technique for detecting a small number of molecules excited. 

For molecules exposed to the intensity of sunlight at the earth s surface this would suggest that the molecule might be excited once in the age of the universe. However, the probability is proportional to the square of the light intensity. For a molecule exposed to a pulsed laser focused to a small spot, the probability of being excited by one pulse may be easily observable by fluorescence excitation or multiphoton ionization teclnhques. 

Three-photon absorption has also been observed by multiphoton ionization, giving Rydberg states of atoms or molecules [36]. Such states usually require vacuum ultraviolet teclmiques for one-photon spectra, but can be done with a visible or near-ultraviolet laser by tluee-photon absorption. 

Johnson P M 1976 The multiphoton ionization spectrum of benzene J. Chem. Rhys. 64 4143-8... 

Belbruno J J 1995 Multiphoton ionization and chemical-dynamics Int. Rev. Phys. Chem. 14 67-84... 

Nesselrodt D R, Potts A R and Baer T 1995 Stereochemical analysis of methyl-substituted cyclohexanes using 2+1 resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization Anal. Chem. 67 4322-9... 

Figure B2.3.8. Energy-level sehemes deseribing various optieal methods for state-seleetively deteeting ehemieal reaetion produets left-hand side, laser-indueed fluoreseenee (LIF) eentre, resonanee-enlianeed multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and right-hand side, eoherent anti-Stokes Raman speetroseopy (CARS). The ionization oontinuiim is denoted by a shaded area. The dashed lines indieate virtual eleetronie states. Straight arrows indieate eoherent radiation, while a wavy arrow denotes spontaneous emission.

The most widely used of these tecluiiques is resonance-enlianced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) [ ]. A schematic energy-level diagram of the most conunonly employed variant (2 + 1) of this detection scheme is illustrated in the... 

Dagdigian P J, Varley D F, Liyanage R, Gordon R J and Field R W 1996 Detection of DCI by multiphoton ionization and determination of DCI and HCI internal state distributions J. Chem. Phys. 106 10 251-62... 

In contrast to the ionization of C q after vibrational excitation, typical multiphoton ionization proceeds via the excitation of higher electronic levels. In principle, multiphoton ionization can either be used to generate ions and to study their reactions, or as a sensitive detection technique for atoms, molecules, and radicals in reaction kinetics. The second application is more common. In most cases of excitation with visible or UV laser radiation, a few photons are enough to reach or exceed the ionization limit. A particularly important teclmique is resonantly enlianced multiphoton ionization (REMPI), which exploits the resonance of monocluomatic laser radiation with one or several intennediate levels (in one-photon or in multiphoton processes). The mechanisms are distinguished according to the number of photons leading to the resonant intennediate levels and to tire final level, as illustrated in figure B2.5.16. Several lasers of different frequencies may be combined. 

Figure B2.5.16. Different multiphoton ionization schemes. Each scheme is classified according to the number of photons that lead to resonant intennediate levels and to the ionization continuum (liatched area). Adapted from [110].

As an example, we mention the detection of iodine atoms in their P3/2 ground state with a 3 + 2 multiphoton ionization process at a laser wavelength of 474.3 run. Excited iodine atoms ( Pi/2) can also be detected selectively as the resonance condition is reached at a different laser wavelength of 477.7 run. As an example, figure B2.5.17 hows REMPI iodine atom detection after IR laser photolysis of CF I. This pump-probe experiment involves two, delayed, laser pulses, with a 200 ns IR photolysis pulse and a 10 ns probe pulse, which detects iodine atoms at different times during and after the photolysis pulse. This experiment illustrates a frindamental problem of product detection by multiphoton ionization with its high intensity, the short-wavelength probe laser radiation alone can photolyse the... 

Herrmann A, Leutwyler S, Schumacher E and Woste L 1978 On metal-atom clusters IV. Photoionization thresholds and multiphoton ionization spectra of alkali-metal molecules Hel. Chim. Acta 61 453... 

Multiphoton ionization. Occurs when an atom or molecule and its associated ions have energy states in which they can absorb the energy in two or more photons. 

This article discusses why one would choose nonresonant multiphoton ionization for mass spectrometry of solid surfaces. Examples are given for depth profiling by this method along with thermal desorption studies. 

The large variability in elemental ion yields which is typical of the single-laser LIMS technique, has motivated the development of alternative techniques, that are collectively labeled post-ablation ionization (PAI) techniques. These variants of LIMS are characterized by the use of a second laser to ionize the neutral species removed (ablated) from the sample surface by the primary (ablating) laser. One PAI technique uses a high-power, frequency-quadrupled Nd-YAG laser (A, = 266 nm) to produce elemental ions from the ablated neutrals, through nonresonant multiphoton ionization (NRMPI). Because of the high photon flux available, 100% ionization efflciency can be achieved for most elements, and this reduces the differences in elemental ion yields that are typical of single-laser LIMS. A typical analytical application is discussed below. 

The calculation done without including diffuse functions in the basis set fails to find three of the lower excited states. It does still compute excitation energies for six excited states, but the other three states are higher in energy than the 8.75 eV state, and do not correspond to the missing states observed by experiment. The three missing states are Rydberg states, observable via multiphoton ionization experiments. 

We have also carried out preliminary experiments in which we have detected the laser desorption of ethylene, cyanogen, methanol, and benzene from the Pt(s)[7(111) x (100)] surface. These spectra are shown in Figure 9. In the experiments involving ethylene, cyanogen, and methanol only neutral species are desorbed. In the case of benzene we observe the molecular parent ion in the absence of the electron beam. We believe that this is due to resonance multiphoton ionization of the benzene by the laser after desorption (resonance multiphoton ionization of benzene is very efficient with 249 nm radiation). These spectra are in marked contrast to the results of SIMS experiments which produce a wide variety of complex metal-adsorbate cluster ions. In the case of ethylene, our experiments were performed at 140 K, and under these conditions ethylene is known to be a molecular x-bonded species on the surface. In SIMS under these conditions the predominant species is CH (15)t but in the laser desorption FTMS experiments neutral ethylene is the principal species detected at low laser power. 

REMPI resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy... 

AFID = alkali-flame ionization detection FID = flame ionization detection FPD = flame photometric detection GC = gas chromatography IGEFET = interdigitated gate electrode field-effect transistor ITMS = ion trap mass spectrometry MIMS = multiphoton ionization mass spectrometry MS = mass spectrometry... 

Gas chromatography with a flame photometric detector (Sass and Parker 1980) and multiphoton ionization mass spectrometry (MI/MS) (Syage et al. 1988) have also been used to analyze diisopropyl methylphosphonate in air samples. 

Syage JA, Pollard JE, Cohen RB. 1988. Ultrasensitive detection of atmospheric constituents by supersonic molecular beam, multiphoton ionization mass spectroscopy. El Segundo, CA Aerospace Corp. NTIS No. AD-A202-299. 

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