Experimental determination of thermal and nonthermal mechanisms for laser desorption from thin metal films

The mechanism of laser desorption of peptides as negative ions from Au thin films with 193, 248 and 351 nm laser radiation has been studied. Variation of the threshold laser power density with metal film thickness is used to distinguish between thermal and nonthermal mechanisms. The influence of laser wavelength on the desorption of peptides with different optical absorption spectra has been studied. Thermal desorption is observed when 351 nm laser radiation is utilized. However, both 248 and 193 nm radiation result in nonthermal desorption processes. At 248 nm, the threshold power density is observed to be independent of the optical absorption of the peptide adsorbate, supporting suggestions that a mechanism involving excitation of hot electrons in the metal is important.