Feature

Resonance ionization mass spectrometry for spectra of rare isotopes

R. Engleman Jr., R.A. Keller, and C.M. Miller

Resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) is becoming a useful tool for isotopic analysis, especially in cases when isobaric (same-mass) interferences from other elements can perturb results. In RIMS, one or more dye lasers are tuned to match atomic transitions (resonances) of atoms of the element of interest in the sample chamber of a mass spectrometer. This causes stepwise excitation of the atoms through the resonant energy levels to the ionization continuum, resulting in a positive ion and an electron. The positive ion is then mass analyzed by the mass spectrometer.

Publish Date: 01 November 1986