New light source

A tunable infrared source that is “mirror-free” and easy to align has been experimentally demonstrated for the first time. Details are given in a paper published in the August edition of Nature Photonics (doi: 10.1038/nphoton.2007.137), and could result in a new source of light that is small, inexpensive and convenient to use.

Optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are useful in a number fields including spectroscopy because they provide tunable coherent light with wavelengths ranging from 2µm to 10µm, filling gaps that can’t be served by other sources. However, conventional designs are hard to align and miniaturise as, apart from a non-linear crystal, they also contain a pair of mirrors that need to be located very precisely. Although “mirrorless” designs have been theoretically proposed in the past, an experimental prototype has not been demonstrated to date.

Carlota Canalias and Valdas Pasiskevicius have built a device that is highly compact, easy to align and has the ability to tune wavelengths with high precision in the near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. Their OPO relies solely on subtle modifications to the non-linear crystal itself, rather than mirrors. The result is a new breed of OPO that consists of just the non-linear crystal and a pump laser.

Chemical imaging of fingerprints

A new fingerprinting technique that could potentially detect the diet, race and sex of a suspected criminal is reported in the August edition of Analytical Chemistry (doi: 10.1021/ac070580j). The technique combines commercial gelatine-based tapes (gel tapes) to collect and transport the prints, along with infrared microspectroscopy using an array detector. The array detector allows a chemical map to be imaged.

As well as detecting chemicals related to the individual (high urea indicates a male, low quantities a female), the technique has the potential to identify traces of substances a person has been in contact with, such as gunpowder, narcotics and biological or chemical weapons. The technique will also allow research into how fingerprints change over time and in different environments, potentially enabling the age of a fingerprint at a crime scene to be established.

Cryogenic MALDI-FTMS

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have achieved first signal on the cryogenic matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI-FTMS) instrument being developed at the school’s Cardiovascular Proteomics Center.

The cryogenic MALDI-FTMS enables operation at extremely low temperatures and involves construction and integration of an FTICR instrument with a modern cryogenic superconducting magnet design. This configuration provides three major advantages. First, the magnet bore and FTICR chamber become very cold, which cryopumps the chamber and decreases the base pressure. Second, because of the cryo­pumping, the bore tube diameter can be much smaller, allowing high homogeneity and high magnetic fields to be generated at greatly reduced cost. Third, the cold surfaces can be used to cool a preamplifier for improved signal-to-noise.

The BUSM prototype is designed with a 14Tesla magnet at ~10ppm homogeneity over the 2"× 2" cylindrical ICR cell. When fully tuned, the instrument will provide performance several orders of magnitude better than existing instruments, using parts that cost about half as much and a magnet costing about four times less.

MS to help build library of forensic ink profiles

Researchers at the Midwest Forensics Resource Center at Iowa State University, USA, are building a library of ink profiles to help forensic scientists identify inks on fraudulent documents and other evidence. They are using mass spectrometry with the DART source, which enables documents of all sizes to be sampled non-destructively. Eliminating the previous sampling steps saves time, and there are great benefits in not damaging or destroying the evidence.

Initial tests also indicate that the new approach reveals more components of the ink than conventional mass spectrometry. At present, the research team is experimenting to determine the best way to analyse inks and build the library. The next phase is to build the library itself, from more than 8000 inks held by the US Secret Service.

BMSS internship

The British Mass Spectrometry Society and Agilent Technologies have announced an internship programme aimed at current postgraduate students. The successful candidate will work in the applications laboratory at the Agilent customer demonstration centre in Manchester, UK. During their time there, they will be trained in the operation of quadrupole time-of-flight, ion trap and triple quadrupole mass spectrometers together with separation science instruments. They will gain an insight into the workings of a commercial laboratory and will be given the opportunity to attend conferences as an employee of Agilent Technologies.

Application for the internship should be made through the BMSS. Send a current CV and a letter detailing why you would like to join Agilent Technologies to bmssadmin@btinternet.com. Applicants must be members of the BMSS, but membership is open to all.

The next internship will run from October to March. For further information and informal discussion, contact Shaun Bilsborough (shaun_bilsborough@agilent.com).

JEOL NMR centre

JEOL have relaunched their UK applications and demonstration centre. First set up in the UK in 1967, the laboratory then moved to the current base in Welwyn Garden City in 1990. The design of the laboratory reflects the current trend towards separating the laboratory from the working environment. Users are able to sit in a comfortable office style environment operating the ECX 400 and ECA 600 in the laboratory next door.

The centre will be the European base for applications and demonstrations as well as both user and engineer training. It was formally opened on 16 July 2007 by Mr Morita, General Manager of JEOL Ltd, with a two-day conference. The speakers at the conference were Dr Derek Maitland, Bradford University, Dr Martin Murray, Bristol University, Dr Tom Huckerby, Lancaster University, and Dr Steve Bociek of Givaudan. They were joined by Mr Fujii, who has just joined JEOL (UK) from JEOL Tokyo, as the European Applications specialist.

JEOL will also be launching an initiative to assist scientists in enhancing funding bids by opening limited places to use the facilities to gather data. Initially, ten places will be offered which will involve a training day on the instruments followed by scheduled access to the instrumentation for the scientists to operate the equipment on their own. If you are interested in this scheme, please contact Peter Meadows or Peter Lander on nmr.applications@jeoluk.com