Mass spectrometer

摘要

The present invention relates to a mass spectrometer comprising a cyclonic mass separator including a conical chamber 14, and a mass analyser up or down stream of the mass separator 14. The sample is injected into the chamber through a tangential inlet 15 forming a vortex within the chamber 14. Centrifugal forces force the heavier particles away from the axis or rotation, while the lighter material will remain closer to the axis. The sample accelerates as it is forced down the reducing cross section with the heavier fractions selectively pushed towards the wall of the cyclonic chamber. The height of the particles within the chamber will therefore be determined according to the mass of the particle. Ions are sampled either axially 18 or radially 17 from the conical chamber 14.