Importance

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Abstract

A method and gas analysis system for a mass spectrometer including an ion pump for creating an internal vacuum within said mass spectrometer, an ionization chamber, an inlet passage through which a gas sample is introduced into the ionization chamber, valve means associated with the inlet passage for controlling the volume of gas sample introduced into the ionization chamber, a filament for introducing electrons into the ionization chamber whereby the electrons bombard the gas sample thus forming ions, an extractor plate positioned adjacent the ionization chamber and biased such that a proportion of ions and electrons are allowed to pass through the extractor plate, a quadrupole filter into which the ions and electrons are directed by the extractor plate, the quadrupole filter operative to permit a stream of ions with a pre-selected mass-to-charge ratio to pass through the filter and ions other than those having the pre-selected mass-to-charge ratio being separated from the stream of ions, means for directing electrons toward ions other than those having the pre-selected mass-to-charge ratio in the area of said quadrupole filter so that the electrons combine with the ions, a sensor for detecting the stream of ions passing through the quadrupole filter, and analyzing means connected with the sensor for analyzing the components of the gas sample.

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First Claim