Changes in the pharmaceutical L-adrenaline-D-hydrogentartrate, incorporated in KBr
matrices, induced by a pulsed carbon-dioxide Transversely Excited Atmospheric
(TEA) laser, were observed. Modifications of the sample were monitored via infrared
spectra. Special attention was devoted to the dependence of the sample changes on the
laser energy density used. The irradiation of the pharmaceutical has been performed
with two laser lines at wavelengths of about 10.6 µm. The laser lines coincide well
with the absorption band of the pharmaceutical, which is assigned to the ring
vibrations/out-of-plane OH deformation vibrations, within the carboxyl (COOH)
group of L-adrenaline-D-hydrogentartrate. Laser energy densities of 1.20 and
1.70 J/cm2 modified the pharmaceutical/compound. It was found that this
modification is in essence a thermal effect. The level of change showed a dependence
on the laser energy density, number of accumulated laser pulses and temporal shape
of the pulse.