Computer-Controlled Instrumentation for Accurate Mass Determination by Peak Matching in Mass Spectrometry

Peak matching, although a tedious and somewhat subjective process, has long been used with sector mass spectrometers for accurate mass determination. Computer-assisted control and data acquisition can remove the subjectivity and make the process faster and less tedious. The circuits for data acquisition and sweep generation and the data analysis programs that provide these advantages are described. These can also be used, with minor modification, for peak ratio determinations.