The 3800 series ATOFMS instruments provide single particle size range from 30 to 3000 nanometers. They use an aerodynamic sizing technique that provides results similar to those obtained from a TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer spectrometer. The aerodynamic size data serves as a timing trigger and calculates when each particle will be in the focal zone of an ablation laser. This laser desorbs and ionizes the particle for chemical analysis in a bipolar, time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Bipolar ion detection-where positive and negative mass spectra are obtained for each particle using separate ion detectors- giving you additional information about the particle and its source. Windows based software controls instrument functions and data acquisition.