Magnetic-Sector Mass Spectrometry

Introduction

Schematic of a magnetic-sector mass spectrometer

Theory

The ion optics in the ion-source chamber of a mass spectrometer extract and accelerate ions to a kinetic energy given by:
K.E. = 0.5 mv² = eV

where m is the mass of the ion, v is it's velocity, e is the charge of the ion and V is the applied voltage of the ion optics.

The ions enter the flight tube between the poles of a magnet and are deflected by the magnetic field, H. Only ions of mass-to-charge ratio that have equal centrifugal and centripetal forces pass through the flight tube:

mv² / r = Hev

centrifugal = centripetal forces.

Where r is the radius of curvature of the ion path:

r= mv / eH

This equation shows that the m/e of the ions that reach the detector can be varied by changing either H or V.

Instrumentation

Double Focusing analyzers:
An electrostatic analyzer is added in this type of instrument to separate particles with difference in kinetic energies.

Related topics:

• Mass spectrometry (Intro)
• Ionization methods
• Ion detectors