Suitcase TOF: A Man-Portable Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

The need for man-portable analytical instrumentation to detect and identify potential chemical and biological hazards in the environment is growing as the number of natural and man-made threats increases. To that end, APL has been developing the Suitcase TOF, a small suitcase-sized Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer, and testing it extensively on known chemical and biological agents. This article introduces the reader to TOF mass spectrometry, describes the features of the Suitcase TOF that make it portable and rugged, and touches on the results of agent testing. Application areas include first-responder and special operations spot checks, clinical medicine, medical research, infrastructure and environmental monitoring, law enforcement, and military troop protection.