An isotope mass spectrometer including: an electron cyclotron resonance ion source, a front-end analysis device, a back-end analysis device and an ion detector; where the electron cyclotron resonance ion source is connected with the front-end analysis device, and is used for generating ion beams of multivalent charge states; the front-end analysis device is connected with the back-end analysis device, selects and separates the ion beams, and receives ion beams of constant, microscale and trace levels; the back-end analysis device is connected with the ion detector, and is used for eliminating a background of an isotope to be measured at an ultratrace level; and the ion detector is used for receiving ion beams of the ultratrace level, and carrying out energy measurement and separation on the ion beams of the ultratrace level, so as to obtain the isotope to be measured at the ultratrace level.

A method for producing a magnetic material includes: selecting a mixture of isotopes of a chemical element having a desired magnetic characteristic; identifying an isotope in the mixture of isotopes meeting a selection criterion; removing the identified isotope from the mixture of isotopes using an isotope separation device to produce an enriched mixture of isotopes having a decreased concentration of the identified isotope; wherein the enriched mixture of isotopes is the magnetic material.

A method for producing a magnetic material includes: selecting a mixture of isotopes of a chemical element having a desired magnetic characteristic; identifying an isotope in the mixture of isotopes meeting a selection criterion; removing the identified isotope from the mixture of isotopes using an isotope separation device to produce an enriched mixture of isotopes having a decreased concentration of the identified isotope; wherein the enriched mixture of isotopes is the magnetic material.

A sample preparation apparatus for an elemental analysis system comprising a sample combustion and/or reduction and/or pyrolysis arrangement for receiving a sample of material to be analysed, and producing therefrom a sample gas flow containing atoms, molecules and/or compounds; a gas chromatography (GC) column into which the sample gas flow is directed; a heater for heating at least a part of the GC column; and a controller for controlling the heater. The controller is configured to control the heater so as to increase the temperature of at least the part of the GC column whilst the sample gas flow in the GC column elutes.

Methods are provided for detecting the amount of one or more CAH panel analytes (i.e., pregnenolone, 17-OH pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-OH progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone, deoxycorticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and cortisol) in a sample by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing one or more CAH panel analytes in a sample and quantifying the generated ions to determine the amount of one or more CAH panel analytes in the sample. In methods where amounts of multiple CAH panel analytes are detected, the amounts of multiple analytes are detected in the same sample injection.

An isotope ratio spectrometer is operated for measurement of a sample. First isotope ratios and first signal intensities are measured for a reference in the spectrometer, over a first measurement time period. A first relationship comprising a relationship between the first isotope ratios and the first signal intensities is determined. Sample isotope ratios and sample signal intensities are measured in the spectrometer, over a second measurement time period subsequent to the first measurement time period. Second isotope ratios and second signal intensities for a reference are measured in the spectrometer, over a third measurement time period subsequent to the second measurement time period. A second relationship comprising a relationship between the second isotope ratios and the second signal intensities is determined. A reference isotope ratio is estimated for a time X within the second measurement time period, based on the first relationship and the second relationship.

An isotope ratio spectrometer is operated for measurement of a sample. First isotope ratios and first signal intensities are measured for a reference in the spectrometer, over a first measurement time period. A first relationship comprising a relationship between the first isotope ratios and the first signal intensities is determined. Sample isotope ratios and sample signal intensities are measured in the spectrometer, over a second measurement time period subsequent to the first measurement time period. Second isotope ratios and second signal intensities for a reference are measured in the spectrometer, over a third measurement time period subsequent to the second measurement time period. A second relationship comprising a relationship between the second isotope ratios and the second signal intensities is determined. A reference isotope ratio is estimated for a time X within the second measurement time period, based on the first relationship and the second relationship.

An isotope mass spectrometer including: an electron cyclotron resonance ion source, a front-end analysis device, a back-end analysis device and an ion detector; where the electron cyclotron resonance ion source is connected with the front-end analysis device, and is used for generating ion beams of multivalent charge states; the front-end analysis device is connected with the back-end analysis device, selects and separates the ion beams, and receives ion beams of constant, microscale and trace levels; the back-end analysis device is connected with the ion detector, and is used for eliminating a background of an isotope to be measured at an ultratrace level; and the ion detector is used for receiving ion beams of the ultratrace level, and carrying out energy measurement and separation on the ion beams of the ultratrace level, so as to obtain the isotope to be measured at the ultratrace level.

A sample preparation apparatus for an elemental analysis system comprising a sample combustion and/or reduction and/or pyrolysis arrangement for receiving a sample of material to be analysed, and producing therefrom a sample gas flow containing atoms, molecules and/or compounds; a gas chromatography (GC) column into which the sample gas flow is directed; a heater for heating at least a part of the GC column; and a controller for controlling the heater. The controller is configured to control the heater so as to increase the temperature of at least the part of the GC column whilst the sample gas flow in the GC column elutes.

An embodiment of a method for real time material identification is described that comprises determining an approximate mass value for an unknown material from spectral information derived from mass spectral analysis of the unknown material; retrieving profile models that correspond to a known material from a data structure using the approximate mass value; fitting a sample profile for the unknown material from the spectral information to the profile models to generate a fit score for each fit, wherein the lowest fit score corresponds to the best fit; calculating a mass value from the best fitting profile model and the sample profile.