Sampling for molecular rotational resonance spectroscopy

A method of introducing an analyte into a molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectrometer, the method comprising:

• heating an evaporation surface to a temperature at least 100° C. higher than a boiling point of the analyte;
• disposing the analyte on the evaporation surface so as to vaporize the analyte;
• entraining the analyte in a carrier gas;
• and
• venting the analyte and the carrier gas into a sample chamber of the MRR spectrometer.

A sampling interface for a molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectrometer, the sampling interface comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a nebulizer, coupled to the enclosure, to produce a fine mist of an analyte in the enclosure, the fine mist comprising droplets having volumes of about 1 μL to about 10 μL;
• and
• a nozzle, in fluid communication with the enclosure, to vent the fine mist of the analyte into a sample chamber of the MRR spectrometer.

A sampling interface for a molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectrometer, the sampling interface comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a metal foil disposed within the enclosure and having a first surface to support an analyte;
• a laser, in optical communication with a second surface of the metal foil opposite the first surface, to illuminate the second surface of the metal foil with a laser beam, the laser beam producing an acoustic wave in the metal foil that causes desorption of the analyte from the first surface of the metal foil;
• a carrier gas port, coupled to the enclosure, to flow a carrier gas into the enclosure;
• and
• a nozzle, coupled to the enclosure, to vent the analyte and the carrier gas into a sample chamber of the MRR spectrometer.

A method of introducing an analyte into a molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectrometer, the method comprising:

• disposing the analyte on a first surface of a metal foil;
• illuminating a second surface of the metal foil opposite the first surface with a laser beam, the laser beam producing an acoustic wave in the metal foil that causes desorption of the analyte from the first surface of the metal foil;
• entraining the analyte in a carrier gas;
• and
• venting the analyte and the carrier gas into a sample chamber of the MRR spectrometer.