Instrumentation

Summary This chapter provides a discussion on various types of ionization methods. For years of mass spectrometer development, the instruments were constantly modified to reach better analytical capabilities, and their construction was supplied by new ion sources, analyzers, and vacuum technology. One of the most important, but usually undervalued part of mass spectrometry, is ion detector. This element is critical for sensitivity of the entire instrument. In majority of mass spectrometers, electron multipliers are used as basic detectors due to their cost efficiency, sensitivity, and reliability. Other commonly used detectors are similar in their principles of operation to a typical electron multiplier. Other interesting types of ion detection are solutions used in the ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) chambers and Orbitraps. In these instruments, the process occurs by the measurement of cyclotron frequencies of the ions traveling in the ICR chamber or by the measurement of oscillation frequencies of ions spinning around central electrode in the Orbitrap.