Application of the ART-2a algorithm to laser ablation aerosol mass spectrometry of particle standards

Single-particle mass spectrometers are now commonly used to analyze atmosph eric particles and generate tens of thousands of spectra from typical measu rement campaigns. The ART-2a spectrum algorithm has been used to classify t hese spectra. In this work, we generate a range of particles that are model s of those that are common in the atmosphere. A single-particle mass spectr ometer is used to analyze these known particles, and the spectra are classi fied using ART-2a. The optimum vigilance parameter is similar to0.5 while t he optimum learning rate is similar to0.05. The classifications elucidate l imitations in generation of test particles, their analysis by single-partic le techniques, and their classification by ART-2a.