DETECTOR FOR METASTABLE IONS OBSERVED IN MASS SPECTRA OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

A sensitive ion detector is described that can record the normal and metastable components of the mass spectrum of an organic compound. Alternately it can suppress to a very high degree the normal spectrum and amplify the metastable spectrum. It can detect metastable transitions taking place on either side of the magnet on a sector type mass spectrometer and it can be used to examine the different fragmentation pathways in the decomposition of an organic ion. The use of the device as an energy selector is briefly discussed. © 1968 The American Institute of Physics.