Mass spectrometric detection of molecular ions formed by irradiation of condensed methanol with a CO2 laser

IR laser-induced ionization is investigated in condensed methanol (77 K) using a TEA CO₂ laser for resonant vibrational excitation and a quadrupole mass spectrometer to analyse the ion spectra produced by laser irradiation. Ions are already detected at laser fluences below 1 J/cm², far below dielectric breakdown. The fluence dependence of the ion yield is measured for two groups of ions and the total number of ions. A mechanism is proposed for the photochemical production of protonated molecules. The protonated monomer is the species with the highest abundance; however, protonated dimers and other quasimolecular ions and fragment ions are also found.