All mass spectrometers operate at very low pressure (high vacuum). This reduces the chance of ions colliding with other molecules in the mass analyzer. Any collision can cause the ions to react, neutralize, scatter, or fragment. All these processes will interfere with the mass. This Webinar discusses how vacuum technology is a fundamental component Mass Spectrometers. (1) A clean vacuum can be obtained and the background of. If a high vacuum provides a long mean free path exceeding the dimension of the chamber, ions can easily reach the detector. The table below summarizes common vacuum-related faults, their symptoms, and solutions. Constant low readings for C, P, S; Pump is hot, loud, smoking, or leaking oil; Loss of low wavelength intensity.
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