| The focus of this dissertation is the utility of laser desorption Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (LD/FT/ICR) mass spectrometry as a tool in analyzing high mass ions. Improved sensitivity for laser desorption is demonstrated when a solid state NH;Laser desorption is also a useful tool for fullerene soot analysis. Small fullerenes coalesce to form even-numbered giant carbon clusters not originally present in the soot (C;Derivations of the upper mass limits for matrix-assisted laser desorption FT/ICR showed that the axial upper limit is responsible for the poor mass range performance of this technique. Based on radial and axial limits, optimal trapping voltages (highest signal and overall mass range) were derived. The upper limit is increased by using high trapping voltages, gated trapping, and collisional cooling. Collisional cooling combined with quadrupolar excitation was shown to be an effective means of axializing ions for efficient sustained ion trapping with high mass resolving power and single-isotope ion isolation selectivity. The selectivity advantage was explored in detail; highest selectivity occurs when high pressure cooling and low-to-moderate excitation amplitudes were employed at frequencies slightly less than the unperturbed ion cyclotron frequency. Selectivity was exploited for collision-induced dissociation (e.g. confirmation of the cage structure for C... |
