| 摘要 |
A control system and method of determining a signal to noise (S/N) ratio of an ion detector system, including an ion detector, electron multiplier or photomultiplier, operates by determining an area of a noise peak, determining an area of a signal peak and determining a ratio of the area of the signal peak to the area of the noise peak. Based thereon, the signal to noise ratio can be optimised. The system has particular applicability for use in mass spectrometry. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method of operating an ion detector system comprising an ion detector, electron multiplier or photomultiplier, the method comprising:
(i) determining a gain of the ion detector, electron multiplier or photomultiplier such that a desired signal to noise ratio (S/N) is achieved for the ion detector, electron multiplier or photomuitiplier; (ii) determining the average ion area, or a value correlated to an average ion area when said ion detector, electron multiplier or photornultiplier is set at the gain determined in (i), and recording this average ion area, or value correlated to an average ion area as a reference value; and (iii) periodically or repeatedly altering, adjusting or setting the gain of the ion detector, electron multiplier or photomultiplier so as to maintain the average ion area, or value correlated to an average ion area at said reference value. |
