A laser viewport is connected to the main extraction close to the mass spectrometer via a flexible bellows and is used when outgassing samples with the CO₂ laser. The stainless steel port houses a Cu planchette with multiple sample wells. The laser beam is transmitted to the samples through a Cleartran (ZnS) viewport. The sample cell is directly coupled to the 5400 extraction line and is mounted to an XYZ stage utilizing Newport stages and a Model ESP7000 motion control system. The stage system is capable of 50 mm travel in all directions.

The CO₂ laser is a Synrad Model 48-2 with a 10.6 micron wavelength, tunable from 0 to 25 W. The laser is controlled by Synrad’s UC-2000 controller, allowing operation in manual, analog current, analog voltage, and remote computer control modes. Beam delivery components are mounted on a Newport X95 rail system and includes four 25 mm Zerodur mirrors with Protected Silver coating, a II-VI ZnSe Beam Expander Condenser, and a II-VI ZnSe focusing lens. Beam Diameter can be varied from 1 to 9 mm. The system also incorporates a Raytek Marathon FR-1 two color ratio thermometer infrared probe with LED laser pointing guide. All components are mounted on a Newport 4" x 30" x 48" breadboard on a vibration dampened table support. The CO₂ laserprobe features a video system for viewing the samples while being heated via the laser. The Newport ESP7000 motion control system, the Synrad 48-2 laser, and the Raytek FR-1 infrared probe are all RS232/422/485 equipped.

The CO₂ laserprobe features a video system for viewing the samples while being heated via the laser, as well as a Raytek IR temperature probe. The Synrad Laser, Newport stages, and Raytek IR probe are all controlled via National Instruments Labview Virtual Intrument programs. One unique feature of our CO₂ laser system is that the laser firing energy can be modulated based on the feedback from the Raytek IR probe.