Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for analyzing the molecular weight of each polymer comprised in a polymer compound, and an analysis system used therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to an analysis method of components of polymer compounds and molecular weight by component using a system in which size-exclusion chromatography (SEC)-pyrolysis gas chromatography (Py-GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) are connected in series and to an analysis system used in the method.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.

Abstract: Apparatus include an atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) analyte electrode defining an analyte discharge axis into an APGD volume, and a plurality of APGD counter electrodes having respective electrical discharge ends directed to the APGD volume, wherein the APGD analyte electrode and the APGD counter electrodes are configured to produce an APGD plasma in the APGD volume with a voltage difference between the APGD analyte electrode and one or more of the AGPD counter electrodes. An electrode can be integrated into an ion inlet. Apparatus can be configured to perform auto-ignition and/or provide multi-modal operation through selectively powering electrodes. Electrode holder devices are disclosed. Related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for conducting reactions and screening for reaction products.

Abstract: A synchronization condition setting processing unit receives a user's selection regarding an MRM transition for which the timing of starting voltage application to a probe is to be synchronized with the timing of starting analysis. A mass spectrometry control unit controls a mass spectrometric unit to repeat a cycle of executing MRM measurement of a plurality of preset MRM transitions, while an ionization control unit controls a PESI ion source to alternately repeat an up-and-down movement of the probe and high voltage application to the probe, and at that time, a synchronization control unit controls control operations of a mass spectrometry control unit and an ionization control unit such that timings of start of the MRM measurement for the MRM transition selected by the user and start of application of voltage to the probe match.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for selectively removing product ions resulting from an ECD dissociation event from the interaction region of an ECD reaction cell, while other precursor peptide ions continue to undergo ECD within the interaction region, thereby reducing or preventing the occurrence of multiple electron capture events by the product ions. In some aspects, the preferential extraction of product ions from the interaction region during the ECD reaction can occur without an auxiliary AC field being generated within the interaction region. Additionally, in some aspects, the methods and systems disclosed herein can subject the various product ions to a non-dissociative charge reduction via exposure to reagent ions of the opposite polarity so as to selectively concentrate product ions to a lower charge state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for electron detection emitted from an object to be used with a charged particle beam column being operated at a certain column and wafer voltage. The sensor is configured and operable to at least reduce interaction of negative ions with the active area of the sensor while minimizing electrons energy loss. The sensor is also configured and operable to minimize both gradual degradation of a cathodoluminescence efficiency of the active area and dynamic change of cathodoluminescence generated during operation of the sensor and evolving throughout the scintillator's lifetime.

Abstract: There are provided an ion mobility spectrometer and a sniffer. The ion mobility spectrometer includes: an ion migration tube; a sampling gas path having a sampling device configured to temporarily store a sample gas collected by a sampling head in a sampling pipe; a sample introduction gas path having two ends in communication with the gas inlet and outlet of the ion migration tube respectively, and configured to introduce a carrier gas within the ion migration tube into the sampling pipe and to carry a sample gas temporarily stored in the sampling pipe into the ion migration tube; and a valve assembly configured to only allow gas to flow from the sampling device to the sampling pipe in a sampling state, and to only allow gas to flow from the ion migration tube through the sampling pipe back to the ion migration tube in a sample introduction state.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transmitter (95) and detector (e.g., integrated as an ultrasound transducer) utilized in a feedback control system automatically monitors and/or detects surface profile (e.g., shape) of the liquid-air interface and adjusts the flow rate of sampling liquid to ensure that experimental conditions remain consistent at the time of sample introduction during serial samplings. The feedback control can provide for automated adjustment of the surface profile of the liquid-air interface in accordance with changes in desired set point according to an experimental workflow (e.g., automated adjustment between an interface corresponding to a vortex sampling set point and an overflow cleaning set point).

Abstract: A laser desorption/ionization method, includes: a first step of preparing a sample support body including a substrate on which a plurality of through holes opening to a first surface and a second surface facing each other are formed, a conductive layer provided on at least the first surface, and a solvent provided in the plurality of through holes with refractoriness in a vacuum; a second step of mounting a sample on a mounting surface of a mounting portion, and of disposing the sample support body on the sample such that the second surface is in contact with the sample; and a third step of ionizing a component of the sample that is mixed with the solvent and is moved to the first surface side from the second surface side through the through hole by irradiating the first surface with laser beam while applying a voltage to the conductive layer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry method comprising steps of generating an ion beam from an ion source; directing the ion beam into a collision cell; introducing into the collision cell through a gas inlet on the collision cell a charge-neutral analyte gas or reaction gas; ionizing the analyte gas or reaction gas in the collision cell by means of collisions between the analyte gas or reaction gas and the ion beam; transmitting ions from the ionized analyte gas or reaction gas from the collision cell into a mass analyzer; and mass analyzing the transmitted ions of the ionized analyte or reaction gas. The methods can be applied in isotope ratio mass spectrometry to determine the isotope abundance or isotope ratio of a reaction gas used in mass shift reactions between the gas and sample ions, to determine a corrected isotope abundance or ratio of the sample ions.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods including a spray chamber are described. In certain examples, the spray chamber may be configured with an outer chamber configured to provide tangential gas flows. In other instances, an inner tube can be positioned within the outer chamber and may comprise a plurality of microchannels. In some examples, the outer chamber may comprise dual gas inlet ports. In some instances, the spray chamber may be configured to provide tangential gas flow and laminar gas flows to prevent droplet formation on surfaces of the spray chamber. Optical emission devices, optical absorption devices and mass spectrometers using the spray chamber are also described.

Abstract: A mass spectrometric system comprises an RF-device for transversely confining ions in an ion region using: (a) a first set of electrodes arranged parallel to one another along a direction of ion travel to define a first transverse boundary of the ion region, and that are supplied with a first RF-voltage such that opposite phases of the first RF-voltage are applied to adjacent electrodes of the first set; and (b) a second set of electrodes arranged parallel to one another along said direction of ion travel to define a second transverse boundary of the ion region, and that are supplied with a second RF-voltage such that opposite phases of the second RF-voltage are applied to adjacent electrodes of the second set, the first and second transverse boundaries being opposite each other in a transverse direction of the ion region and the first and second RF voltages having different frequencies.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes, systems, and methods. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a source of DESI-active spray, in which a distal portion of the source is enclosed within a transfer member such that the DESI-active spray is produced within the transfer member.

Abstract: A system comprises: a vacuum chamber disposed within a housing and having a vacuum port; a vacuum pump within the housing and having a gas inlet port that is fluidically coupled to the vacuum port; and a fluid circuit that comprises: one or more fluidic tubing lines, channels or conduits in thermal contact with a housing of the vacuum pump; a liquid pump fluidically coupled to an inlet of the one or more fluidic tubing lines, channels or conduits; and a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, wherein the heat exchanger inlet is fluidically coupled to an outlet of the one or more fluidic tubing lines, channels or conduits and the heat exchanger outlet is fluidically coupled to the liquid pump. The fluid circuit may also include a portion that is in thermal contact with the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An analytical system including a mass spectrometer (MS) coupled to liquid chromatography (LC) via an ionization source (IS), and an automated method of maintaining the analytical system in a QC-compliant status are described. The method comprises determining a deviation of the analytical system from a QC-compliant status by determining a deviation of one or more predetermined parameters in an m/z spectrum above one or more predetermined thresholds, triggering an IS and/or MS maintenance procedure upon determining a deviation from the QC-compliant status, determining a return or a failed return to the QC-compliant status during and/or after the IS and/or MS maintenance procedure by determining a return or a failed return respectively of the one or more predetermined parameters in an m/z spectrum below the one or more predetermined thresholds, triggering another IS and/or MS maintenance procedure upon determining a failed return to the QC-compliant status.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a sample dispenser including an internal standard and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A method of ionizing a sample is disclosed that comprises heating a sample so that analyte is released from the sample, producing charged particles such as charged droplets downstream of the sample, and using the charged particles to ionize at least some of the analyte released from the sample so as to produce analyte ions.

Abstract: A laser-ablation-based analytical system can include a sample chamber input, a make-up gas input, a vacuum pump, and an output flow. The sample chamber input can be configured to deliver a sample chamber gas flow comprised of combination of a laser-ablated sample and a sample-carrier gas from a sample chamber. The make-up gas input can be configured to provide an amount of make-up gas to supplement the combination of the laser-ablated sample and the sample-carrier gas. The vacuum pump can be fluidly connected to the sample chamber input and the make-up gas input, the vacuum pump configured to create a negative pressure in a sample transport gas downstream of the vacuum pump, the sample transport gas including the make-up gas, the laser-ablated sample, and the sample-carrier gas. The output flow can be configured to deliver the sample transport gas from the vacuum pump to a detection device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the high resolution imaging of samples using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and to the imaging of biological samples by imaging mass cytometry (IMCTM) in which labelling atoms are detected by IMS. LA-ICP-MS (a form of IMS in which the sample is ablated by a laser, the ablated material is then ionised in an inductively coupled plasma before the ions are detected by mass spectrometry) has been used for analysis of various substances, such as mineral analysis of geological samples, analysis of archaeological samples, and imaging of biological substances. However, traditional LA-ICP-MS systems and methods may not provide high resolution. Described herein are methods and systems for high resolution IMS and IMC.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ion guide for guiding an ion beam along an ion path, said ion guide having a longitudinal axis which corresponds to said ion path. Said ion guide comprises a plurality of electrode plates which are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, each electrode plate having an opening and being arranged such that said longitudinal axis extends through its respective opening, wherein said openings collectively define an ion guide volume. The ion guide extends or is configured to extend through a separation wall separating adjacent first and second pumping chambers. The ion guide has a first portion, in which gaps are formed between at least some of said electrode plates such that uncharged gas can escape from said ion guide volume, wherein said first portion is completely located in said first pumping chamber.

Abstract: To provide an ion milling apparatus adapted to suppress the contamination of a beam forming electrode. The ion milling apparatus includes: an ion gun containing therein a beam forming electrode for forming an ion beam; a specimen holder for fixing a specimen to be processed by irradiation of an ion beam; a mask for shielding a part of the specimen from the ion beam; and an ion gun controller for controlling the ion gun.

Abstract: A sample support body is a sample support body for ionizing a sample, including: a substrate having an irregular porous structure formed to communicate a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; and a conductive layer provided at least on the first surface.

Abstract: An automated method of monitoring a state of an analyzer is provided including a mass spectrometer (MS) with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source coupled to a liquid chromatography (LC) stream, including monitoring an electrospray ionization current of the ESI source and identifying a condition of multiple conditions of the analyzer based on the monitored ionization current of the ESI source, one of the conditions being a presence of a dead volume in a liquid chromatography stream of the analyzer downstream of an LC column of the LC stream.

Abstract: Method and devices are provided for assessing tissue samples from a plurality of tissue sites in a subject using molecular analysis. In certain aspects, devices of the embodiments allow for the collection of liquid tissue samples and delivery of the samples for mass spectrometry analysis.

Abstract: An electrospray ion source for a mass spectrometer comprises: (i) a plurality of N electrospray emitters within an ionization compartment, wherein N?2; (ii) a mixing chamber; (iii) a plurality of N inlets, each inlet comprising a conduit configured to receive charged particles from a respective one of the electrospray emitters and to emit the charged particles into the mixing chamber; (iv) an outlet port either facing or within an intermediate-vacuum compartment; and (v) a heater in thermal contact with at least a portion of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biological samples using mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry that includes producing gas-phase ions and neutrals from the sample in a proximity of the sample; transferring the produced ions from the sample to a distance via a flexible or re-configurable ion transfer device such that the flexible or re-configurable ion transfer device includes a plurality of electrodes configured to be flexible or flexibly connected to each other, and the ion transfer device is configured to be flexible while transferring the ions to allow the ion transfer device to form one or more curvatures; and separating the produced ions with a mass spectrometer or a mobility analyzer located at the distance to provide spectrometric results.

Abstract: A multivariate analysis operation unit (43) represents each of chromatogram data at a specific wavelength ?1 in data acquired by a PDA detector (2) and mass spectrum data repeatedly obtained by a mass spectrometer (3) in the form of a matrix, and then calculates a regression coefficient matrix by performing a PLS operation with a two-dimensional matrix based on the mass spectrum data as an explanatory variable and a one-dimensional matrix based on the chromatogram data as an explained variable. A regression coefficient is obtained with respect to each m/z value, and an m/z value having a high regression coefficient indicates an m/z value of which the chromatogram wavelength at a specific wavelength is similar to an extracted ion chromatogram (XIC). Accordingly, an m/z-value extracting unit (44) compares the regression coefficient with a threshold and extracts a significant m/z value, and an XIC creating unit (46) creates an XIC of the extracted m/z value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for targeted analysis of ions according to mobility which uses a trapping ion mobility separator (TIMS) comprising a gas flow and an electric DC field barrier within an RF ion guide. The method comprises the steps of introducing ions into the trapping ion mobility separator, pushing the ions by the gas flow against the counteracting electric DC field barrier wherein the height of the electric DC field barrier and the velocity of the gas flow are set such that target ions are trapped near a plateau of the trapping ion mobility separator along which the effective force acting on the ions is substantially constant, and adjusting the height of the electric DC field barrier and/or the velocity of the gas flow in a single step such that the target ions pass the electric DC field barrier.

Abstract: A photomultiplier includes a housing including a proximal end and a distal end, an optical window disposed at the proximal end of the housing, an end-wall plate disposed at the distal end of the housing, a feedthrough that penetrates through the end-wall plate, and a gas electron multiplier (GEM) board disposed between the optical window and the end-wall plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization are provided herein. In various aspects, the APCI apparatus, systems, and methods can provide an asymmetric sample spray into a vaporization chamber asymmetrically (e.g., off axis from the longitudinal axis of the vaporization chamber) so as to increase the interaction of the molecules in the sample spray with the vaporization chamber's sidewalls (and expose more of the molecules to the heat generated thereby), which can thereby result in improved consistency and/or efficiency of ion formation, and/or increased sensitivity relative to conventional APCI techniques.

Abstract: In a laser assisted spectroscopy system, an apparatus for bypassing the fluid conduit and a method of bypassing the fluid conduit, opening the sample chamber and replacing the sample, closing and purging the sample chamber, and removing the fluid conduit bypass and returning to online status is addressed by the present disclosure.

Abstract: The invention provides an ion mobility analyzer apparatus and analysis method. The analyzer apparatus includes an ion source, two groups of parallel electrodes, a power supply unit and a detector. The drift region is formed between the two groups of parallel electrodes, and has an ion entrance connected to the ion source and an ion exit. Each group of parallel electrodes is located in a plane respectively, and the two planes are parallel to each other. The power supply unit is configured to apply direct current potentials on the two groups of parallel electrodes to form a direct current electric field that applies an opposing force on ions against the gas flow so that ions with different mobilities are trapped under the combined effect of the gas flow and the direct current electric field. The detector is connected to the ion exit to detect ions.

Abstract: A method of performing a computational process using a quantum computer includes generating a laser pulse sequence comprising a plurality of laser pulse segments used to perform an entangling gate operation on a first trapped ion and a second trapped ion of a plurality of trapped ions that are aligned in a first direction, each of the trapped ions having two frequency-separated states defining a qubit, and applying the generated laser pulse sequence to the first and second trapped ions. Each of the plurality of laser pulse segments has a pulse shape with ramps formed using a spline at a start and an end of each of the plurality of laser pulse segments.

Abstract: A solution electrode glow discharge apparatus has a housing that contains a solid electrode. The solid electrode has a head and a tip. The tip of the solid electrode extends outwards from the housing. At least a portion of the head of the solid electrode is positioned with an electrical and thermal conducting block. An adjustable-polarity power supply is provided in communication with the solid electrode. A cooling mechanism is provided for cooling the electrical and thermal conducting block.

Abstract: A solution-cathode glow discharge mass spectrometry (SCGD-MS) apparatus comprises a SCGD source and a mass spectrometer. The SCGD source may comprise conductive rods, a power source, and a capillary. A method for ionizing an analyte comprises flowing an electrically conductive liquid onto a conductive rod, applying an electric potential to a second conductive rod such that a plasma discharge forms between the first conductive rod and the electrically conductive liquid to produce ions, and separating the ions in a mass spectrometer. The analyte may be a polypeptide that may be contacted with trypsin. The analyte may be a solid, liquid, gas, chemical complex, or ion in solution. The method may comprise sequencing the polypeptide.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices to dissociate ions using one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). A mass spectrometer for ion dissociation includes an ion source for providing ions for dissociation, a mass analyzer, and a photodissociation (PD) device. The PD device includes an ion transport device. The ion transport device is configured perform one or more of: transporting the ions through the PD device, and trapping the ions within a region of the PD device. The PD device also includes one or more LEDs positioned to irradiate the ions in the PD device, resulting in fragmentation of the ions.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed comprising a first ion source (210) arranged and adapted to emit a spray of charged droplets (211) and a detector or sensor (203) arranged and adapted automatically to detect, sense or determine one or more first parameters or properties of the spray of charged droplets (211) as the spray of charged droplets (211) impacts upon a surface of the detector or sensor 203. The apparatus further comprises a control system (204) arranged and adapted to adjust, correct and/or optimise one or more second parameters or properties of the spray of charged droplets (211) based on the one or more first parameters or properties of the spray of charged droplets (211) detected, sensed or determined by the detector or sensor (203).

Abstract: A laser desorption/ionization method includes: a first process of preparing a sample support body that includes a substrate in which a plurality of through-holes are formed and a conductive layer that is provided on the first surface of the substrate; a second process of mounting a frozen sample on a mounting surface of a mount under a sub-freezing atmosphere, and fixing the sample support body to the mount in a state in which the second surface is in contact with the frozen sample; a third process of thawing the sample, and moving components of the thawed sample toward the first surface via the plurality of through-holes due to a capillary phenomenon; and a fourth process of irradiating the first surface with a laser beam while applying a voltage to the conductive layer, and ionizing the components that have moved toward the first surface.

Abstract: An ion transport system comprises: (I) an ion transfer tube extending between an atmospheric-pressure ionization chamber and a partially evacuated chamber; and (II) an ion funnel within the chamber comprising: (1) an exit electrode that has an exit aperture configured to deliver the gas and charged particles to a high-vacuum chamber; and (2) a funnel portion comprising a plurality of plate electrodes configured as a stack, each electrode comprising a respective aperture, wherein an aperture diameter of each of the plurality of electrodes is greater than or equal to three times an inter-electrode pitch and wherein no DC electrical potential gradient is applied between the exit electrode and an adjacent one of the plurality of plate electrodes.

Abstract: A system and method for sample analysis using sub-atmospheric pressure (sub-AP) laser ionization. The sub-AP ion source includes a holder with a sample containing analyte molecules, a pulsed laser beam configured to generate ionized species from the sample, an ion extractor adjacent to the holder configured to extract analyte ions from the ionized species by an extraction electric field Es near the sample, an ion funnel structure composed of orifice electrodes located along an ion funnel pathway direction z. The ion funnel structure has an entrance and an exit, the exit being the electrode with the smallest aperture in the structure. This structure is configured for accepting the analyte ions from the ion extractor at the entrance and dragging them toward the exit using an axial electric field Ez along the direction z. The extraction electric field Es is at least partly electrically shielded from the axial electric field Ez.

Abstract: A sample plate for a solid sample includes a plate-shaped main body and lid. The main body has a concave portion, in which a sample placement platform shaped like a cylinder protrudes from the central area of the bottom surface of the concave portion. The lid has a funnel-shaped opening bored at a position immediately above the concave portion. The diameter of the opening on the lower side is approximately the same as that of the sample placement platform. After a sample, e.g. a biological tissue section, is placed in the concave portion, the lid is closed. Then, the lower wall surface of the lid surrounding the opening presses the sample downward. The sample is thereby sandwiched between the lower wall surface and the sample placement platform. A solvent for ionization is injected into the opening whose lower side is thus closed by the sample.

Abstract: A chemical analysis machine comprising a liquid phase chromatograph comprising, in turn, a chromatography nano-column with an inner diameter that is smaller than or equal to 100 ?m, a mass spectrometer with an electronic ionization source, and a joining assembly interposed between the liquid phase chromatograph and the mass spectrometer. The joining assembly comprises a microcapillary tube having an inner diameter smaller than or equal to 50 ?m and having a first end, which is directly connected to an outlet end of the nano-column so as to receive the liquid phase, and a second end, which is housed inside a vaporization microcannula where an inert gas flows. The vaporization microcannula is partially engaged by the microcapillary tube and has an end facing the inside of an ionization chamber of the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A sample plate for MALDI mass spectrometry, according to the present invention, enables separately positioning, by means of a plastic insulation plate, metal wiring and metal dots onto which an analyte sample is to be loaded, and electrically connecting same by means of a via or a metal portion, and thus the energy transferred into the plate when radiating a laser beam on the target (metal dots) may be reduced compared to a sample plate using a base metal, and thus laser energy may be concentrated on the target, and an effect may be achieved whereby heat loss is minimized.

Abstract: A method for controlling the filling of an ion trap with a predetermined quantity of ions. The method comprises generating an ion current by transmitting ions along an ion path to an ion trap, such that ions are accumulated in the ion trap over a transmission time period, wherein the magnitude of the ion current varies in time. The method further comprises detecting at an ion detector at least some ions from the source of ions during a plurality of distinct sampling time intervals interspersed within the transmission time period, and setting the duration of the transmission time period based on the detection of ions at the ion detector. The time difference between the start of a sampling time interval and the start of an immediately subsequent sampling time interval is less than a timescale for variation of the magnitude of the ion current. A controller for controlling the filling of an ion trap with a predetermined quantity of ions and a mass spectrometer comprising the controller is also described.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a vacuum manifold having an interior space, a vacuum pump configured to maintain the interior space at a pressure below 5×10-5 torr, a heated component, such as an ion source, located within the interior space, and a multilayer insulator located within the interior space. The multilayer insulator including an inner layer with a first surface oriented towards the heated component and a second surface oriented away from the heated component; and an outer layer with a third surface oriented towards away from the heated component and a fourth surface oriented towards the heated component.

Abstract: A control target area determiner 21 sets a rectangular target area surrounding a measurement area specified on an optical microscopic image of a sample. A validity determiner 22 and binarization processor 23 divide all small areas within the target area into a first group which overlaps the measurement area and a second group which does not overlap, and assign valid flag “1” and invalid flag “0” to the first and second groups, respectively. A compression processor 24 reads individual flag data in a predetermined order on all small areas within the target area, creates a binary-data string, and compresses the string by run length encoding. A control-processing unit 2 sends the compressed data to a main apparatus 1 along with other data, including information indicating the position of the first small area within the target area. The main apparatus 1 performs an analysis while gradually decoding those data.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a triple ionization interface for ionizing sample components is provided. The ionization interface of the mass spectrometer includes a means for ionizing sample components via electrostatic ionization, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, and laser diode thermal desorption.

Abstract: To provide a functional membrane for ion beam transmission capable of enhancing ion beam transmittance and improving beam emittance. A functional membrane for ion beam transmission according to the present invention is used in a beam line device through which an ion beam traveling in one direction passes and has a channel. The axis of the channel is substantially parallel to the travel direction of the ion beam.

Abstract: A method for ionizing gaseous samples by dielectric barrier discharge and for subsequently analyzing the produced sample ions in an analysis appliance, in particular a mass spectrometer or an ion mobility spectrometer, produces the sample ions by a plasma caused by a dielectric barrier discharge, wherein the dielectric barrier discharge is produced by virtue of a plasma gas being supplied through a capillary made of a dielectric material, wherein a wire-shaped electrode is arranged within the capillary, the electrode being connected to an AC voltage source, wherein the gaseous sample is supplied to the exit region of the capillary, wherein the wire-shaped electrode is connected to the AC voltage source on the high-voltage side.