Special feature: Perspective - Miniature mass analyzers

Increased efforts are being made to develop miniature mass spectrometers, i ncluding those which are hand-portable, and to retain the performance chara cteristics of traditional laboratory instruments as much as possible in the miniature instruments. This review of miniature mass analyzers emphasizes analytical performance and compares the relative merits of each type of min iature mass analyzer. Miniature instruments discussed include sector, Wien filter, time-of-flight, linear quadrupole, quadrupole ion trap and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers, as well as combinatio ns of and variations on these major types. Special considerations that appl y to small mass analyzers are noted and suggestions are made regarding the possible future development of this field. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.