Post-source decay

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009311",
  "term": "Post-source decay",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A fragmentation process in mass spectrometry where metastable ions, formed in the ion source, undergo unimolecular decomposition in a field-free region after exiting the ion source. The resulting fragment ions have reduced kinetic energy and can be detected by scanning the reflectron voltage in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This technique provides structural information about precursor ions.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "product ion spectrum"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2013, 85, 1515. 'Definitions of terms relating to mass spectrometry (IUPAC Recommendations 2013)' on page 1578 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/post-source-decay/"
}