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.

A method of analysis using mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a first target of biological material; and mass and/or ion mobility analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke, or vapour, or ions derived therefrom so as to obtain first spectrometric data. The method may use an ambient ionisation method.

Embodiments of apparatus and method for testing metal contamination are disclosed. In an example, an apparatus for testing metal contamination includes a chamber in which a test object is placed, a gas supply configured to supply nitrogen gas into the chamber, a pressure controller configured to apply a pressure of at least about 1 torr in the chamber, and a measurement unit configured to measure a concentration of a metal from the test object.

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.

A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing an analyte; supplying a matrix compound to said analyte such that said analyte dissolves in said matrix; forming first droplets of the dissolved analyte; and colliding said first droplets with a collision surface. The use of matrix improves the analyte ion signal.

Systems and methods are described for integrated decomposition and scanning of a material, such as a semiconducting wafer, a scanning nozzle includes, but is not limited to, a nozzle body defining one or more nozzle ports to receive fluid for introduction to the surface of the material and to recover fluid from the surface of the material, and a nozzle hood extending from the nozzle body, the nozzle hood defining an inner channel longitudinally disposed along the nozzle body, the nozzle hood further defining one or more outer channels longitudinally disposed along the nozzle body, the inner channel fluidically coupled with the one or more outer channels via one or more gaps defined by the nozzle hood.

In one aspect, a time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a source comprising a backing plate configured to operably couple to a core sample containing component, and an acceleration region. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer also includes a time-of-flight mass analyzer operably associated with the source region. In some embodiments, the core sample core sample containing component is a coring drill bit. In some embodiments, core containing component is configured to couple to the backing plate of the source region from the opposite side of the acceleration region. In some embodiments, core containing component is configured to couple to the backing plate of the source region on the acceleration region side of the backing plate. In some embodiments, the acceleration region is a single-stage acceleration region. In other embodiments, the acceleration region is a two-stage acceleration region.

An apparatus is disclosed including a tool comprising a first device for generating aerosol from a target, the first device being deployed through an opening in a tubing of the tool, wherein the tubing is provided with aspiration ports or fenestrations such that the generated aerosol is aspirated into the tubing via the aspiration ports or fenestrations. The aspirated aerosol is then transferred to a mass spectrometer for subsequent mass analysis.

A method of analysis is disclosed comprising providing a sample on an insulating substrate such as a petri dish 4 and contacting e.g. the rear surface of the insulating substrate with a first electrode 9. The method further comprises contacting the sample with a second electrode 2 and applying an AC or RF voltage to the first and second electrodes 9,2 in order to generate an aerosol from the sample.

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target (2) using a chemical sensor (20). The chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target (2). An ambient ionisation ion source 1 may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour (5) from one or more regions of the target (2).