Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Beam deflection for temporal encoding in time-of-flight mass spectrometry
G E Yefchak1, G A Schultz, J Allison
1Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, Ml.
Abstract:
The pulsed ion sources used in conventional time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) generally do not provide adequate resolving power across the mass range required for applications such as gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Theoretical and experimental aspects of beam deflection techniques, which provide time encoding for TOFJMS with continuous ions sources, are explored here. In this approach, ion source conditions do not affect resolving power, allowing for a greater variety of ionization modes to be used. Theoretical predictions for the resolving power attainable with beam deflection, which are satisfactory for GC/MS applications, agree well with experimentally determined values. The combination of GC-beam deflection-TOFMS with time-array detection is evaluated, and the capabilities of this system are compared to those of scanning mass spectrometers.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrum: Interpretation
Mass Analyzers: Common Types
MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometers
Peptide Identification Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry
This technique helps gather information regarding the protein from which the peptide was obtained and to study the peptides’ amino acid sequence. Identifying peptides from a complex mixture is an important component of the growing field of...

