User`s guide

Chapter 5 Optimizing Instrument Settings
5-58 PerSeptive Biosystems
5
Adjusting laser
intensity
To efficiently optimize the laser setting, increase or decrease
the laser settings to the mid-setting of a continuously
decreasing laser window. To adjust the laser settings,
click-drag the slider bar on the Manual Laser Intensity/Sample
Positioning control page. For more information, see “Manually
adjusting laser intensity” on page 4-28.
Adjusting laser intensity depends on the following:
General strategy As a general strategy for adjusting laser intensity:
• Start at the default setting for your system
(approximately 1,800), or the setting in the loaded
.BIC file.
• If the spectrum you obtain is not acceptable,
increase or decrease the laser in 50 to 100-step
increments or decrements and reacquire. For
more information on acceptable laser signal, see
“Signal saturation” on page 5-59.
If... Then...
You are using a .BIC file for the
same mass range and matrix.
Laser intensity may require only minor
adjustments.
You are using a .BIC file for the
same mass range, but different
matrix.
Increase or decrease the laser in 50 to
100-step increments (or decrements) following
the strategy described below. For more
information, see “Selecting a .BIC file” on
page 5-8, and “Laser intensity and matrix” on
page 5-57.
You are using default Instrument
Control Panel settings. The
mid-range default laser setting if a
.BIC file is not loaded is
approximately1,800.
This setting is typically too high for many
samples and matrix. Decrease the laser in 50
to 100-step decrements, following the strategy
described below. For more information, see
“Laser intensity and matrix” on page 5-57.