The study of systems by causing the formation of gaseous ions, with or without @F02506@, which are then characterized by their mass-to-charge ratios and relative abundances.
Source: PAC, 1991, 63, 1541. (Recommendations for nomenclature and symbolism for mass spectroscopy (including an appendix of terms used in vacuum technology). (Recommendations 1991)) on page 1546 [Terms] [Paper]