An ion source is a device that creates atomic and molecular ions. Ion sources are used to form ions for mass spectrometers, optical emission spectrometers, particle accelerators, ion implanters and ion engines.
Mass spectrometer EI/CI ion source
Electron ionization source schematic
NASA's NEXT (ion thruster) space craft propulsion system
Capillaritron with quartz capillary in operation within a vacuum chamber: On the left the glowing capillary with the plasma up to the extraction cathode and on the right behind it the bluish glowing ion beam.
Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that is used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. The results are presented as a mass spectrum, a plot of intensity as a function of the mass-to-charge ratio. Mass spectrometry is used in many different fields and is applied to pure samples as well as complex mixtures.
Discovery of Neon Isotopes
Replica of F.W. Aston's third mass spectrometer
Calutron mass spectrometers were used in the Manhattan Project for uranium enrichment.
Surface ionization source at the Argonne National Laboratory linear accelerator