Abstract: Inlet apparatus for providing sample analyte vapour to a detector, the apparatus comprising: a sample receiving portion (110); a heater (120); a vapour pre-concentrator (130); and a sampling inlet (140); wherein the sample receiving portion is arranged to receive a flow of gas carrying aerosol sample analytes and the heater is arranged to heat the aerosol sample analytes to provide sample analyte vapour; and wherein the apparatus is arranged to provide said sample analyte vapour to both: (i) the vapour pre-concentrator, and (ii) a said detector via the sampling inlet.

Abstract: An inlet apparatus for a detection system, and a method for controlling power consumption in a detection system, are provided. An inlet apparatus comprises an inlet (102) for receiving a flow of air (108) to be tested, the inlet comprising a heater (106) configured to heat the flow of air to vaporise an aerosol carried by the air for sampling by the analytical apparatus (120). A flow provider (114) is configured to draw the flow of air through the inlet past the heater for sampling by the analytical apparatus, and a controller (104) is configured to control operation of the heater and the flow provider to reduce a flow rate of the air past the heater to reduce cooling of the heater before increasing power to the heater to vaporise aerosols, and to control the flow provider to provide aerosols vaporised by the heater for sampling by the analytical apparatus.