Improved detection limits in an organic mass spectrometer using a combination of matrix free FAB and photodiode array detection.

Scanning mass spectrometers suffer from the disadvantage of monitoring only one mass at any particular time in contrast to mass spectrographs which allow the simultaneous detection of an extended mass range. Historically such mass spectra were recorded by directing the ion beam onto a photographic plate which was subsequently developed and interpreted. The introduction of electronic devices such as the photodiode array enabled the development of imaging detectors capable of real time readout, so that a range of masses can be detected and rapidly processed using a computer system. This work uses such a detector in combination with a double focusing MS50RF mass spectrometer for the parallel detection of a limited mass range.