Chapter 1 - Historical developments in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Abstract

In this review, the technical developments of the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT ICR) mass spectrometry as well as the developments of the ICR before the implementation of Fourier transform into this technique are described in historical order. Instrumentation, theory and applications are covered in ion chemistry, ion physics, and structural analysis of a very broad variety of compounds, from atoms and small molecules to biological and petrochemical analytes. For investigation, the ions can be generated inside or outside the ICR cell. They are trapped in the ICR cell, reacted with neutral molecules, photons, or ions. Finally, mass spectra of primary ions and ionic reaction products are produced with ultrahigh resolution and precision. From the many thousand publications in the field, the authors selected 221 publications for this review. The criterion was that a new development, a new aspect, a new extension, or a new application of the method was presented for the first time. In the first decades, many fundamental discoveries took place. However, the FT ICR technique has not reduced its dynamical development until today and will continue its success with many extended applications and instrumental developments in the future.