Dynamic heating of a differential mobility spectrometer cell

1 . A method of operating a differential mobility spectrometer (DMS), the method comprising:

providing a heater disposed proximate a ceramic body of a DMS cell;

applying a first control voltage to the heater;

detecting a first threshold with a first sensor disposed within a curtain plate, wherein the curtain plate substantially surrounds the DMS cell;

applying a second control voltage to the heater based at least in part on the detected first threshold;

during application of the second control voltage, performing a mass spectrometry analysis of a gas within the DMS cell.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the first threshold is a temperature.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed remote from the heater.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on the ceramic body.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed proximate an inlet to a vacuum chamber adjacent the ceramic body.

6 . The method of claim 1 , where in the sensor comprises a pressure sensor, and wherein the first threshold is a pressure.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the pressure sensor is disposed in an orifice plate adjacent a vacuum chamber coupled to the DMS cell.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first control voltage is a constant voltage.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second control voltage is less than the first control voltage.