Laser-desorption/laser-ionization mass spectrometry of biomolecules1

Some applications of the powerful novel method of laser evaporation of intact neutral molecules into a supersonic beam and the subsequent multiphoton ionization are shown. The mass spectra of several bioorganic molecules are presented and their intrinsic features upon the multiphoton interaction are discussed. Owing to the details of desorption and multiphoton ionization these mass spectra yield, in relation to the intensity of the laser beam, in very few and structural dependent signals. In every case the molecular ion of the investigated sample is detected.