Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Part IV: Deviations from Linearity Jul 1, 2008 By: Kenneth L. Busch

In the fourth part of a five-part series, columnist Ken Busch discusses factors that might cause deviation from linearity at the upper and lower limits of a calibration curve.

Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Part III: An Overview of Regression Analysis Mar 1, 2008 By: Kenneth L. Busch

Columnist Ken Busch presents the third of a five-part series on quantitative mass spectrometry. In this installment, he focuses on an overview of regression analysis for calibration lines and curves in mass spectrometry.

Tracing the S-Curve: Molecular Applications of ICP-MS Jan 1, 2008 By: Kenneth L. Busch

In this month's installment, columnist Ken Busch addresses the molecular applications of inductively coupled plasma linked with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and how those applications have developed.

Quantitative Mass Spectrometry: Part II Oct 1, 2007 By: Kenneth L. Busch

In this month's installment, columnist Ken Busch continues his discussion of quantitative mass spectrometry with a look at the "cancel out" claim and some of the statistical underpinnings for the proportional comparison of instrument responses for standard knowns and unknowns.

Quantitative Mass Spectrometry: Part I Jul 1, 2007 By: Kenneth L. Busch

In this month's installment, columnist Ken Busch discusses how to best answer the questions "What is it?" and "How much is there?"

Jelly Beans and Mass Spectrometry for K-4 Students Apr 1, 2007 By: Kenneth L. Busch

In this month's installment, columnist Ken Busch presents an elementary explanation of mass spectrometry that is appropriate for a young student audience, or for, perhaps just explaining to family what you actually do for a living.

The Inductively Coupled Plasma Source Jan 1, 2007 By: Kenneth L. Busch

January 2007. In recent columns, the careful work needed to characterize and optimize electron ionization (EI) sources was described. This month, Ken Busch focuses on the potential for mass discrimination in the ICP source.

Electron Ionization: More Ins and Outs Oct 1, 2006 By: Kenneth L. Busch

October 2006. Columnist Ken Busch continues his discussion of the El source and how source design and operational details directly affect source performance.

Electron Ionization Sources: The Basics Jul 1, 2006 By: Kenneth L. Busch

The ion source is the heart of the mass spectrometer. In the ion source, ions are created from gas-phase neutral sample molecules, or preformed ions are extracted from solutions, and then sent into the mass analyzer of the instrument. The electron ionization (EI) source was the first source widely used for organic mass spectrometry (MS), and design, development, and optimization of this source are all the result of the work of many of the early pioneers of MS.