Building mass spectrometers and a philosophy of research

Development of the techniques of ion kinetic energy spectrometry and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry is described. The extension of these concepts to the method of tandem mass spectrometry for direct mixture analysis is traced, and a rationale for the construction of hybrid mass spectrometers is presented. Collisions of polyatomic ions with surfaces are discussed as an outgrowth of gaseous collisions. An attempt is made to describe a philosophy of research that guided the construction of a dozen mass spectrometers and the exploration of organic ion chemistry in as many contexts.