Aerosol quantification with the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer: detection limits and ionizer background effects

Systematic laboratory experiments were performed to investigate quantification of various species with two versions of the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer, a Quadrupole Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (Q-AMS) and a compact Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (c-ToF-AMS). Here we present a new method to continuously determine the detection limits of the AMS analyzers during regular measurements, yielding detection limit (<i>DL</i>) information under various measurement conditions. Minimum detection limits range from 0.03 μg m<sup>−3</sup> (nitrate, sulfate, and chloride) up to 0.5 μg m<sup>−3</sup> (organics) for the Q-AMS. Those of t…