A computer-controlled nanosecond laser system

A Fully-automated, computer-controlled laser Bash photolysis system is described. It uses a fast digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) with a sufficient number of time points that multiple time scales can be generated by the computer from a single kinetic trace originating from the DSO. The experimental controls are designed so the computer is available to do fast processing and overall control but is largely free from having to handle experimental interrupts and from having to do most timing functions. Some new designs for shielding against noise interference allow good signal-to-noise for both UV-Vis and the near infrared detection of nanosecond transients. A chemical example is given to illustrate the advantages of the new system. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.