time-of-flight mass spectrometer
Quick Summary
A time-of-flight (TOF) instrument, such as a mass spectrometer, separates particles, like ions, based on the time it takes them to travel a specific distance. In a TOF mass spectrometer, ions are extracted from an ion source and travel through a tube. Their velocities differ based on their mass-to-charge ratio, with lighter ions moving faster than heavier ones.12
By measuring the time it takes for ions to reach a detector, their mass can be calculated. This method is rapid and can display an entire mass spectrum, though it may have limitations in resolution and accuracy.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
mass spectrometryIon-velocity spectrometers…allowed the construction of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer, in which a short emission of ions is released from the source and their arrival times recorded after having traversed a distance sufficiently long to sort out the different speeds.
Read More…allowed the construction of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer, in which a short emission of ions is released from the source and their arrival times recorded after having traversed a distance sufficiently long to sort out the different speeds.
Read More- spectroscopyResonance-ionization mass spectrometry
…quadrupole mass filter and the time-of-flight mass spectrometer have been developed. These three types have been built into RIMS systems (see mass spectrometry).
Read More…quadrupole mass filter and the time-of-flight mass spectrometer have been developed. These three types have been built into RIMS systems (see mass spectrometry).
Read More
