Patent ID: 7989759

Claim:
A method for recording daughter ion spectra in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, the method comprising: (a) creating an ion beam containing metastable ions in an ion source by matrix assisted laser desorption, the metastable ions decaying in a time range greater than 10 −5 seconds via a post-source decomposition process; (b) guiding the ion beam in an original direction from the ion source to a parent ion selector; (c) reflecting the ion beam with at least one electrical reflector located between the ion source and the parent ion selector; (d) returning the ion beam to substantially the original direction through the use of further reflectors or deflection capacitors; (e) selecting ions from the ion beam by means of the parent ion selector; (f) guiding the selected ions on ion paths from the parent ion selector to a post-acceleration unit; and (g) recording daughter ion spectra for daughter ions that form from the selected ions on the ion paths before the selected ions reach the post-acceleration unit.