LASER-INDUCED ACOUSTIC DESORPTION OF ELECTRONS AND IONS

Laser irradiation of absorbing materials can be used to generate acous tic pulses with extremely high amplitude and short pulse duration. Suc h acoustic pulses can transfer energy and momentum to atomic particles on solid surfaces to cause desorption of the particles. We report exp erimental observations of the effect of laser-induced acoustic desorpt ion (LIAD) of electrons from metal film surfaces and hydrogen ions fro m the surface of palladium saturated with hydrogen. We believe LIAD ca n be used as a gentle technique to transfer analyte molecules and ions into gas phase for mass analysis and for other applications. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.