ABSTRACT
Since ICP-MS was first introduced in the early 1980s, a number of different ion detection designs have been utilized, the most popular being electron multipliers for low ion count rates and Faraday collectors for high count rates. Today, the majority of ICP-MS systems that are used for ultratrace analysis use detectors that are based on the active film or discrete dynode electron multiplier. They are very sophisticated pieces of equipment and are very efficient at converting ion currents emerging from the mass analyzer into electrical signals. The location of the detector in relation to the mass analyzer is shown in Figure 11.1.
