Intensity dependence of cation kinetic energies from 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid near the infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization threshold

The mechanisms responsible for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) are far from being well understood, particularly where infrared las er irradiation is used to initiate the process. We measured the emission yi elds and kinetic energy distributions of positive ions emitted from 2,5-dih ydroxybenzoic acid loaded with angiotensin II in a standard MALDI preparati on during irradiation with an infrared free-electron laser tuned to 2.94 mu m. As the laser intensity is scanned through the MALDI threshold, we see a marked change in the energy distributions of the matrix ion. Above threshol d, the energy distributions of both analyte and matrix cations are constant over a broad range of laser intensities. This behavior does not appear to be consistent with any extant model of the MALDI mechanism. Copyright (C) 2 001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.