What are the major components of a mass spectrometer?

A mass spectrometer is composed of three main components: an ionization source, the mass analyzer, and an ion detection system. The sample being analyzed is ionized in the ion source. ). Depending on the experiment, different ionization methods can be used, such as electron ionization (EI) or electrospray ionization (ESI). In EI, the sample is vaporized into the mass spectrometer ion source, where a beam of electrons will ionize the molecules present. ESI is a soft ionization technique which produces fewer in-source fragment ions. After radiation occurs, the ions are then transported by magnetic or electrical fields to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer separates the ions according to their m/z ratios. There are various types of mass analyzers. Many mass spectrometers utilize two or more mass analyzers in their procedure. Lastly, the ion detector system is responsible for recording the charge induced or the current produced when an ion passes by or hits a surface. The detector produces an electrical signal proportional to the quantity of ions detected. Most machines will be directly linked to a computer to save data efficiently.