Ion Population Control for an Electrical Discharge Ionization Source

摘要

A method of providing reagent ions to a mass spectrometer comprises delivering a reagent species to a reagent ionization volume via a passageway at a flow rate. Using previously acquired information, an injection time duration is calculated for injecting reagent ions that are formed in the reagent ionization volume into a reaction region of the mass spectrometer. A determination is made as to whether the calculated injection time duration is within a specified range of injection time duration values. When it is determined that the calculated injection time duration falls outside of the specified range of injection time duration values, the flow rate at which the reagent species is delivered to the ionization volume is adjusted.