Pulse Shaper Cavity Troubleshooting
Perform daily calibration,
conduct scientific
experimentation, log all
activity in the 2DIR
logbook
Barely
Assuming probe intensity is
sufficient and absorption of sample
is sufficient, you need to increase
pump-probe signal. You can do this
by:
1) Increasing spatial overlap of the
pump-probe beam by slightly
moving the silver pump mirror.
2) Increasing temporal overlap by
moving the probe delay stage,
motorized pump delay stage, or
changing the dispersion parameters
in the phasetech software.
3) Check your sample, ensure it has
not evaporated and is not expired
by undergoing D2O/H2O exchange.
Translate sample stage in X, Y, Z
direction as necessary.
See the Troubleshooting SOP and
perform the “OBTAIN SIGNAL”
procedure.
This means there is probably
an issue with the pump beam,
either temporally or spatially.
Perform the “LOSS OF
SIGNAL” procedure in the
Troubleshooting SOP
Do you have a pump-
Yes probe signal with a
sample present?
This means the probe beam is not
hitting the detector. Verify TOPAS
output. Restart QC hardware and
software. Restart AOM and ensure
warning indicator light is not on.
Ensure all shutters entering and
exiting pulse shaper cavity are
open. Verify that the
waveplate/polarizer is allowing
maximum transmission along probe
path. Ensure guide beam/IR
overlap flip mirror is in the correct
position. Verify probe output
using the Pyro detector near the
sample. If pyro output is detected ,
it may be necessary to steer the
beam onto the detector array using
the mirrors. If pyro output is not
detected, retrace the probe path
and determine if the probe beam is
clipped or not hitting a mirror along
the probe path.
Click on the image acquisition.
Can you detect probe intensity
No anywhere on the detector
array?
No Yes Barely
If pump intensity is
sufficiently high, do you
have an absorption
signal when a sample is This means you may need to
present? re-route the probe beam to
maximize the signal on the
detector. Before you do
Yes No this, verify TOPAS output,
verify monochromator is at
the proper wavelength and
is set to 30 g/mm. Ensure
Ensure monochromator
the waveplate and polarizer
is set to 30 g/mm and is
in the probe path are set to
set to a proper maximize transmission.
wavelength. Ensure the Ensure your sample is fresh
probe beam interacts and interacting with the
with the sample by probe beam by translating
translating the sample the sample stage as
stage as necessary. necessary.
Ensure purge air is
1: Attempt to steer the
entering cavity. Check optics located after sample
your sample; the analyte interaction to determine if
concentration may be
signal intensity increases.
too low. Check scaling Observe the acquisition on
factor of acquisition. the image tab to determine
if the reference beam needs
to change.
2: If step 1 is not sufficient,
you may need to move the
first two silver mirrors in the
pulse shaper cavity to
improve the probe
absorption. This will alter
the pump temporal/spatial
parameters as well.
Downstream adjustments to
the silver pump mirror and
the dispersion and delay
stage will be necessary to
account for this change.