2. Principles of Each Unit

A mass spectrometer (MS) primarily consists of three main sections: the ionization source, the mass analyzer, and the ion detector. In the ionization source, the components introduced into the MS are efficiently ionized. Once ionized, these components are separated in the mass analyzer based on differences in their m/z. When the ions reach the ion detector, they are converted into electrical signals, which are output as data for subsequent analysis. This section explains the principles of each unit in detail.