Abstract: An ion detection system including an ion source and at least one ion detector is disclosed. The ion source includes a source housing, a reactor, first and second ionizers and a sampling channel. The first ionizer is a glow discharge ionizer. The ion detector communicates with the sampling channel. A conditioner, which is sized to remove fast diffusing electrons, connects the first glow discharge ionizer to the reactor. A corresponding method of ionization is also disclosed. The method includes ionizing and conditioning an ionizer gas, receiving the ionizer gas and analyte molecule ions into a reactor, and delivering a flow from the reactor. The conditioning of the ionizer gas removes fast diffusing electrons from the gas flow.

Abstract: An ion detection system including an ion source and at least one ion detector is disclosed. The ion source includes a source housing, a reactor, first and second ionizers and a sampling channel. The first ionizer is a glow discharge ionizer. The ion detector communicates with the sampling channel. A conditioner, which is sized to remove fast diffusing electrons, connects the first glow discharge ionizer to the reactor. A corresponding method of ionization is also disclosed. The method includes ionizing and conditioning an ionizer gas, receiving the ionizer gas and analyte molecule ions into a reactor, and delivering a flow from the reactor. The conditioning of the ionizer gas removes fast diffusing electrons from the gas flow.

Abstract: An ion source (12, 102) for a mass spectrometer comprising an ionizer (18, 106) receiving an ionizer gas from an ionizer gas supply (16), a conditioner (20) in communication with the ionizer (18, 106), a reactor (22, 110) in communication with the conditioner (20) and adapted for communication with the mass spectrometer, the reactor (22, 110) adapted to receive a sample from a sample supply in communication with the reactor (22, 110), wherein the conditioner (20) is sized to remove fast diffusing electrons from a flow of the ionizer gas from the glow discharge ionizer (18, 106) to the reactor (22, 110).

Abstract: An ion source (12, 102) for a mass spectrometer comprising an ionizer (18, 106) receiving an ionizer gas from an ionizer gas supply (16), a conditioner (20) in communication with the ionizer (18, 106), a reactor (22, 110) in communication with the conditioner (20) and adapted for communication with the mass spectrometer, the reactor (22, 110) adapted to receive a sample from a sample supply in communication with the reactor (22, 110), wherein the conditioner (20) is sized to remove fast diffusing electrons from a flow of the ionizer gas from the glow discharge ionizer (18, 106) to the reactor (22, 110).