SIMULATION OF A DISCRETE ELECTRODE DETECTOR ARRAY PERFORMANCE

An experimental and theoretical study has been carried out in which io n peaks measured using a discrete electrode detector array placed in t he focal plane of a mass spectrometer are compared with the results pr oduced by an array simulator programmed in Mathcad. All known factors influencing a peak profile have been included in the simulator. The ac tivation of several electrodes in single events is observed experiment ally and predicted by the simulator. The results highlight the paramet ers which are most important in determining the performance of the arr ay, particularly the sensitivity and resolving power.