Flight mass spectrometry (FMS) is a technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions by measuring the flight time of ions through an electric field. It is often employed for rapid, accurate, and precise determination of the mass and purity of volatile samples.
In FMS, ions are generated from the sample and then accelerated through an electric field. The ions' flight time is measured as they traverse a known distance, and the mass-to-charge ratio is calculated based on the measured flight time (and some other parameters).
FMS can be performed using different types of mass analyzers, including time-of-flight (TOF) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) analyzers. The choice of analyzer is determined by the desired resolution and mass range.
FMS is widely used in various fields, including: