Ion Mobility Spectrometry is a technology which provide very sensitive detection of different substances and agents at very low concentrations.
Basically an IMS system measures velocity of a given ion in a uniform electric field through a given gas atmosphere.
A sample of the ions is let into the drift chamber, where ions are subjected to a homogeneous electric field ranging from a few volts per centimeter up to many hundreds of volts per centimeter. This electric field then drives the ions through the drift tube where they interact with the neutral drift molecules contained within the system.
Ions are recorded at the detector in order from the fastest to the slowest, generating a response signal characteristic for the chemical composition of the measured sample.
Applications
- Measurements of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) contamination (LCD 3.3 , GID-3),
- Measurements of Explosive materials and drugs.
