A mass spectrometry apparatus includes an ion detector and a control circuit coupled to the ion detector. The ion detector includes a pulse counting stage and an analog stage configured to generate a pulse counting signal and an analog signal, respectively, responsive to incident ions. The a control circuit is configured to output the pulse counting signal in a pulse counting output mode and to output the analog signal in an analog output mode. The control circuit is configured to switch from the pulse counting output mode to the analog output mode responsive to the pulse counting signal exceeding a first threshold within a range of about 10 million counts per second to about 200 million counts per second. Related devices and operating methods are also discussed.

A dual polarity ion detector comprises: an entrance electrode disposed to receive ions and maintained at a reference voltage, V.sub.0; a first dynode maintained at a voltage, V.sub.1, that is negative relative to V.sub.0; a second dynode maintained at a voltage, V.sub.2, that is positive relative to V.sub.0; a shielding electrode disposed between the first and second dynodes and maintained at a voltage, V.sub.3; and an ion detector comprising an entrance aperture configured to receive first secondary particles from the first dynode and second secondary particles from the second dynode, the entrance aperture maintained at a voltage, V.sub.aperture; that is intermediate between the voltage, V.sub.1, and the voltage, V.sub.2. In some instances, the voltage, V.sub.3, may be equal to or approximately equal to the voltage, V.sub.0.

A system for remote-controlling a spectrometer, which includes: at least one spectrometry device including a spectrometer and auxiliary modules, the spectrometry device being configured to measure spectrometry data on an object and/or a process; a control device configured to control the spectrometry device, the control device including an element for controlling the spectrometry device, an element for acquiring and processing the spectrometry data, and an element for remote communication; and at least one interface modules configured to communicate with the control device remotely. The remote-control device is configured to communicate with the interface module via Internet, and the spectrometry device is interchangeable. Also, a device for remote-controlling a spectrometry system that is configured to be used in a system for remote-controlling the spectrometer.

An instrument for separating ions may include an ion source configured to generate ions from a sample, at least one ion separation instrument configured to separate the generated ions as a function of at least one molecular characteristic and an electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) positioned to receive ions exiting the at least one ion separation instrument. The ELIT has first and second ion mirrors separated by a charge detection cylinder, and is configured such that an ion trapped therein oscillates back and forth through the charge detection cylinder between the first and second ion mirrors with a duty cycle, corresponding to a ratio of time spent by the trapped ion traversing the charge detection cylinder and total time spent by the trapped ion traversing a combination of the first and second ion mirrors and the charge detection cylinder during one complete oscillation cycle, of approximately 50%.

An ion detector that can detect either positive or negative ions comprises: an ion inlet comprising an ion focusing lens; a dynode having a surface configured to intercept, within a zone of interception, a stream of ions passing through the ion focusing lens, wherein a plane that is tangent to the dynode surface at the zone of interception is disposed at an angle to a line that passes through the center of the dynode surface and the center of the focusing lens; a scintillator having a surface that is configured to receive secondary electrons emitted from the zone of interception; a scintillator electrode affixed to the scintillator surface; a photodetector configured to receive photons emitted by the scintillator and to generate an electric signal in response thereto; and one or more power supplies electrically coupled to the focusing lens, the dynode, the scintillator electrode and the photodetector.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

In a sampling interface for mass spectrometry, a method and apparatus are set forth for preventing liquid overflow from a sampling probe into a sample. The apparatus comprises a substrate adapted to retain a droplet of liquid as it forms at an open end of the sampling probe, and a sensor on a surface of the substrate opposite the sample adapted to detect the droplet of liquid and generate a signal for controlling the droplet of liquid before it overflows into the sample.

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to detectors and systems using them. In some examples, the detector can include a plurality of dynodes, in which one or more of the dynodes are coupled to an electrometer. In some instances, an analog signal from a non-saturated dynode is measured and cross-calibrated with a pulse count signal to extend the dynamic range of the detector.

Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing for implementing computation devices and artificial neurons based on nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems. In one aspect, a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) based computing element includes: a substrate; two electrodes configured as a first beam structure and a second beam structure positioned in close proximity with each other without contact, wherein the first beam structure is fixed to the substrate and the second beam structure is attached to the substrate while being free to bend under electrostatic force. The first beam structure is kept at a constant voltage while the other voltage varies based on an input signal applied to the NEMS based computing element.

A charge detection mass spectrometer may include an electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) or orbitrap, a source of ions to supply ions to the ELIT or orbitrap, a processor operatively coupled to the ELIT or orbitrap, a display monitor coupled to the processor, and a memory having instructions stored therein executable by the processor to produce a control graphic user interface (GUI) on the display monitor, the control GUI including at least one selectable GUI element for at least one corresponding operating parameter of the ELIT or orbitrap, receive a first user command, via user interaction with the control GUI, corresponding to selection of the at least one selectable GUI element, and control the ELIT or orbitrap to control the at least one corresponding operating parameter of the ELIT or orbitrap in response to receipt of, and based on, the first user command.