Versatile Double-Beam Confocal Laser System Combined with a Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer for Photodissociation Mass Spectrometry and Spectroscopy.

Both infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) and ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) play important roles in tandem mass spectrometry and the action spectroscopy of organic and biological molecules. A flexible combination of the two methods may provide researchers with more versatile and powerful ion activation/dissociation choices for structural characterization and spectroscopic studies. Here, we report the integration of two tunable lasers with a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer in a confocal mode, which offers multiple capabilities for photon activation/dissociation experiments. The two overlapped beams can be introduced into the cell individually, sequentially, or simultaneously, providing highly flexible and diverse activation schemes. The setup can also measure the UVPD or IRMPD action spectra of fragment ions generated by previous photon dissociation processes. In addition, the multistage tandem-in-time mass spectrometry performance up to MS4, including three different activation methods in a single cell, has also been demonstrated.