History of Mass Spectrometric Techniques

In its history, mass spectrometry has passed through fascinating scientific epochs of development and supplied important contributions to the world view in quite different fields of science (especially in the life sciences, environmental science and technology, material and nuclear sciences, geosciences, cosmochemistry,1 planetary and forensic sciences) and in basic studies in chemistry and physics. 

Mass spectrometry is more than 100 years old and has yielded basic results and profound insights for the development of atomic physics. The rapid development of nuclear physics, in particular, would be unthinkable without the application of mass spectrometric methods. Mass spectrometry has contributed to conclusive evidence for the hypothesis of the atomic structure of matter. So far mass spectrometry has supplied specific results on the structure of the nucleus of atoms. Nobel prizes have been awarded to a number of scientists (Thomson, Wien, Aston, Paul, Fenn and Tanaka) associated with the birth and development of mass spectrometry, or in which mass spectrometry has aided an important discovery (e.g., for the discovery of fullerenes by Curl, Kroto and Smalley). 

Inorganic Mass Spectrometry Principles and Applications J. S. Becker 2007 John Wiley Sons, Ltd 

The velocity of the ion (v) can be described then as the ratio of electrical field force (E) and magnetic field force (B)  

The Wien velocity filter possesses a high sensitivity and allows analysis over a mass range (using a high accelerating voltage V), but with increasing mass the mass resolution decreases.3 For his discovery Wien was honoured with the Nobel Prize in 1911. 

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Abstract A short history and treatment of the various aspects of nuclear forensic analysis is followed by a discussion of the most common chemical procedures, including applications of tracers, radioisotopic generators, and sample chronometry. Analytic methodology discussed includes sample preparation, radiation detection, various forms of microscopy, and mass-spectrometric techniques. The chapter concludes with methods for the production and treatment of special nuclear materials and with a description of several actual case studies conducted at Livermore. 

Continuous Monitoring. Continuous ion monitoring is a mass spectrometric data acquisition technique with a long history which was recently reviewed by Falkner (23), Byl skii (8) reports the utility of this technique for studying the kinetics of the mechanical degradation of... 

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