Photoionization as a Source of Ions for Mass Spectrometry

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Abstract
Some preliminary experiments are described in which ions are formed in the ionization chamber of a mass spectrometer by radiation from a source of far ultraviolet. Depending on the wavelength of the radiation and the ionization and appearance potentials of parent and fragment ions, it is possible to produce spectra which consist of the parent ion only. In one case a dissociative ionization process was observed. Free methyl radicals from the pyrolysis of mercury dimethyl were also detected by photoionization. Some possible applications of the technique to the measurement of ionization and appearance potentials and to special problems in mass spectrometry are discussed.