product ion scan

product ion scan

In a multistage mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiment, mass-selected precursor ions are induced to dissociate into product ions, which are then mass analysed by a second analyser.
The product ion scan is one of three common scans in the single-step MS/MS experiment, in which the first mass analyser is set at the mass of the selected precursor ion; the second mass analyser is then scanned from that mass downwards, resulting in a mass spectrum that contains signals for all the product ions formed from the selected precursor ion.