A ribbon beam mass analyzer having a first and second solenoid coils and steel yoke arrangement. Each of the solenoid coils have a substantially "racetrack" configuration defining a space through which an ion ribbon beam travels. The solenoid coils are spaced apart along the direction of travel of the ribbon beam. Each of the solenoid coils generates a uniform magnetic field to accommodate mass resolution of wide ribbon beams to produce a desired image of ions generated from an ion source.