Table 1.

Comparison of Mass Spectrometer Types.

Analysis method	Magnet	Operation	Resolution	Mass range
Magnetic sector	Y	Continuous	High	Medium
Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance	Y	Cyclic	High	Medium
Quadrupole mass spectrometer	N	Continuous	Low	Low
Ion trap	N	Cyclic	Medium	Medium
Time-of-flight	N	Cyclic	Medium	High