Magnetic Sector & Quadrupole operation
The VTI AERO VAC Odyssey Mass Spectrometer / Residual Gas Analyzer (RGA) utilizes the 'original' principle of using a magnetic field to separate components of an ion beam on a mass/charge basis. As such, it is unique in that other instruments offered for RGA generally use a quadrupole and all use electric fields to provide mass separation.
There are differences in the ways the two instruments operate and so care must be taken when comparing the two both for a specific application and from a purely specification point of view. Both instruments have a role to play but, after careful consideration of factors discussed below, it may be surprising to find how universally applicable the Magnetic Sector instrument can be due to it's inherent simplicity, durability and practicality.
Technical Bulletin 101 (download available left) discusses various aspects the user might consider.
