Laser photofragment spectroscopy: a new technique for the detection of N-nitrosamines and other nitroso compounds.

The potential of laser photofragment spectroscopy (LPS) for the detection and discrimination of nitrosamines, alkyl nitrites, thionitrites and C-nitroso compounds has been evaluated. The technique combines high sensitivity with the dramatic specificity of high-resolution spectroscopy and utilizes pulsed laser photodissociation with synchronized detection of the NO photofragment by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Using supersonic molecular beam sampling and wavelength tunable photodissociation, LPS can generate well-resolved finger-print spectra characteristic of the parent nitroso compound.