A microsecond time-resolved mass spectrometry device and method of using desorption electrospray ionization (10) was described for the kinetic study of fast reactions. The device includes a liquid jet generator (64) that is configured to emit a continuous liquid jet (50) having a length. An ambient ionization source (10) is directed toward a selected variable location along the continuous liquid jet (50) to desorb at least a portion of the continuous liquid jet (50). A mass analyzer (30) analyzes a mass-to-charge ratio of an ionized sample that is within the desorbed portion of the continuous liquid jet (50). The acquired mass spectra reflect the reaction progress in different reaction times and, therefore, may be used to derive the reaction rate.

A microsecond time-resolved mass spectrometry device and method of using desorption electrospray ionization (10) was described for the kinetic study of fast reactions. The device includes a liquid jet generator (64) that is configured to emit a continuous liquid jet (50) having a length. An ambient ionization source (10) is directed toward a selected variable location along the continuous liquid jet (50) to desorb at least a portion of the continuous liquid jet (50). A mass analyzer (30) analyzes a mass-to-charge ratio of an ionized sample that is within the desorbed portion of the continuous liquid jet (50). The acquired mass spectra reflect the reaction progress in different reaction times and, therefore, may be used to derive the reaction rate.

An auto-cleaning and auto-zeroing system (1) comprises a first conduit for flow of ambient gas (16) and a 2.sup.nd conduit (22) for flow of ambient air (18). A cleaning chamber (12) removes impurities from ambient air (18). The 1.sup.st conduit (20) and 2.sup.nd conduit (22) are connected to a valve, operated by the continuous motor, which continuously draws ambient gas (16) or cleaned and filtered ambient air (18) through the system. Cleaned and filtered ambient air (18) enters the ionization chamber (10) to carry out a cleaning (flushing) and a cleaning (ionization) cycle. In this manner, contaminants and pollutants left in the ionization chamber (10) from the measurement of ambient gas (16) are flushed out and removed.

An auto-cleaning and auto-zeroing system (1) comprises a first conduit for flow of ambient gas (16) and a 2.sup.nd conduit (22) for flow of ambient air (18). A cleaning chamber (12) removes impurities from ambient air (18). The 1.sup.st conduit (20) and 2.sup.nd conduit (22) are connected to a valve, operated by the continuous motor, which continuously draws ambient gas (16) or cleaned and filtered ambient air (18) through the system. Cleaned and filtered ambient air (18) enters the ionization chamber (10) to carry out a cleaning (flushing) and a cleaning (ionization) cycle. In this manner, contaminants and pollutants left in the ionization chamber (10) from the measurement of ambient gas (16) are flushed out and removed.

A non-radioactive plasma ion source device includes at least four planar electrodes that define at least three chambers, including a discharger chamber and at least two additional chambers aligned along a major longitudinal axis of the housing. A discharger ionizes at least one of a transport gas and a discharge gas to form ions in the discharger chamber that are directed by a homogeneous electric field generated by the planar electrodes toward an analyte gas outlet. Ionized species of at least one of the transport gas and the discharge gas that are not entrained by a counterflow gas stream are discharged from the discharger chamber to form a stream of ionized particles that ionize a sample gas and thereby form a stream of ionized analyte particles of the same polarity. The ionized analyte particles are entrained with the stream of ionized particles and pass through an analyte gas outlet to an analyzer.

A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the amount of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG includes a detection section (10), a drive circuit (210, 240), and a drive control section (225). The detection section includes a first potential member (31, 12, 13) maintained at a first potential PV1, a second potential member (14, 51, 53) maintained at a second potential PVE, PV3, and an insulating member (121, 77, 76) disposed between the first and second potential members. The system includes insulation test means (215, S3, 245, S5) for testing the degree of insulation between the first and second potential members. The drive control section includes drive permission/prohibition determination means S4, S6 for determining, on the basis of the degree of insulation tested by the insulation test means, whether to permit the drive of the detection section by the drive circuit.

A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the amount of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG includes a detection section (10), a drive circuit (210, 240), and a drive control section (225). The detection section includes a first potential member (31, 12, 13) maintained at a first potential PV1, a second potential member (14, 51, 53) maintained at a second potential PVE, PV3, and an insulating member (121, 77, 76) disposed between the first and second potential members. The system includes insulation test means (215, S3, 245, S5) for testing the degree of insulation between the first and second potential members. The drive control section includes drive permission/prohibition determination means S4, S6 for determining, on the basis of the degree of insulation tested by the insulation test means, whether to permit the drive of the detection section by the drive circuit.

An ionization device includes a first electrode comprising a conductive member coated with a dielectric layer. The ionization device also includes a spine extending adjacent to and at least partially along the first electrode. The ionization device further includes a second electrode comprising conductive segments disposed adjacent the first electrode. Each one of the conductive segments contacts the spine at a respective contact location. The dielectric layer of the first electrode separates the conductive member of the first electrode from the spine and the second electrode. The ionization device is configured to create plasma generating locations corresponding to respective crossings of the first electrode and the second electrode.

An ionization device includes a first electrode comprising a conductive member coated with a dielectric layer. The ionization device also includes a spine extending adjacent to and at least partially along the first electrode. The ionization device further includes a second electrode comprising conductive segments disposed adjacent the first electrode. Each one of the conductive segments contacts the spine at a respective contact location. The dielectric layer of the first electrode separates the conductive member of the first electrode from the spine and the second electrode. The ionization device is configured to create plasma generating locations corresponding to respective crossings of the first electrode and the second electrode.

In an ion analyzer dissociating an ion originating from a sample by bringing a radical into contact with the ion within a reaction chamber, a source gas from which the radical is to be generated is introduced into a generation chamber. A power supplier supplies electric power for generating an electric discharge within the generation chamber. A source-gas supplier supplies the source gas to the generation chamber. A controller controls the source-gas supplier and the power supplier to perform, in a switchable manner, a radical introduction mode where the electric power is supplied to the generation chamber while the source gas is supplied to the generation chamber for supplying the radical to the reaction chamber, and a source-gas-only introduction mode where the electric power is not supplied to the generation chamber while the source gas is supplied to the generation chamber for supplying the source gas to the reaction chamber.