Method and device for the mass-spectrometric analysis of gases

1. Method of operating a static mass spectrometer ( 10 ), with an ion source ( 12 ) and an analyzer ( 14 ), comprising the steps of:

a) evacuating the mass spectrometer;

b) admitting a gas into the mass spectrometer;

c) bonding the gas in a concentrated manner on a surface with the ion source of the mass spectrometer by cooling said surface;

d) ionizing the gas on the cooled surface within the ion source; and

e) analyzing the ionized gas in the analyzer.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the gas is cooled only to the extent that diffusion movements are still possible on the cooled surface.

3. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the gas is ionized by an electric field (field ionization).

4. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the gas is ionized by electron impact.

5. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the gas is ionized by irradiation with laser light.

6. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the gas is ionized by an electric field (field ionization).

7. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the gas is ionized by electron impact.

8. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the gas is ionized by irradiation with laser light.

9. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the gas is cooled to temperatures in the range of approximately 42 K to 60 K.

10. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the gas is cooled until a liquid or solid state of aggregation is reached.

11. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the initial pressure in the mass spectrometer is approximately 10 −9 mbar (10 −7 Pa).