Contains 23 of the 42 papers presented at the Fourth International Conference on Ion Formation from Organic Solids, held at the University of Münster, in September of 1987. These contributions reflect recent progress in ion desorption by keV-particle bombardment, ion desorption by MeV-particle bombardment, ion desorption by laser irradiation, and positionization of neutrals. Fundamental aspects, instrumentation, and analytical applications are all considered.

The 3rd International Conference on Ion Formation from Organic Solids (IFOS III) was held at the University of Munster, September 16-18, 1985. The conference was attended by 60 invited scientists from all over the world. Of the 43 papers which were presented, 40 are included in these proceedings. The aim of IFOS III was to promote the exchange of results and new ideas between scientists actively working in the field of mass spectrometry of involatile materials. Various aspects of the ion formation process - realization and optimization, theoretical understanding and analytical application -were treated, as well as instrumental developments. Some emphasis was placed on recent developments in time-of-flight and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, and its impact on the mass spectrometry of involatile materials. The most important goal of the conference was to combine facets of the understanding of the most complex ion formation processes with the many different aspects of its analytical application. The participants came from a wide variety of different fields, including pure and applied physics and chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, and space research. Finally, on behalf of all the conference participants, I would like to thank Dr. W. Sichtermann and :\1iss I. Bekemeier for the perfect preparation and technical organization of the conference. The next conference in this series, IFOS IV, is planned for the autumn of 1987, in Munster.

A NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Methods and Mechanisms for Producing Ions from Large Molecules was held at Minaki Lodge, Minaki, Ontario, Canada, from 24 to 28 June 1990. The workshop was hosted by the time-of-flight group of the Department of Physics at the University of Manitoba, and was attended by 64 invited participants from around the world. Twenty-nine invited talks were given and 19 papers were presented as posters. Of the 48 contributions, 38 are included in these proceedings. The conference was organized to study the rapidly changing field of mass spectrometry of biomolecules. Particle-induced desorption (especially with MeV particles) has been the most effective method of producing molecular ions from biomolecules. An important part of the workshop was devoted to recent developments in this field, particularly to progress in understanding the fundamentals of the desorption process. In this respect, the meeting was similar to previous conferences in Marburg, FRG (1978); Paris, F (1980); Uppsala, S (1981); College Station, USA (1983,1984); Wangerooge, FRG (1986); Orsay, F (1988); Spiekeroog, FRG (1989); and to the IFOS series of meetings at Munster, FRG (1981,1983,1985,1987) and L6vAnger, S (1989). As in the most recent of these meetings, there was some emphasis on new developments, particularly cluster bombardment. A departure from the concentration on particle bombardment processes at this conference was inspired by the dramatic results obtained with two new methods for producing molecular ions from large molecules: matrix-assisted laser desorption and electrospray.

This is a coherent collection of thoroughly written articles on the present status of new mass spectrometry methods. PDMS and LDMS, Plasma Desorption and Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometry, are ideal for application in Biology. This volume is the first coherent edition devoted to applications in Marine Organic Chemistry.

Practical Organic Mass Spectrometry Second Edition A Guide for Chemical and Biochemical Analysis J. R. Chapman Kratos Analytical Instruments, Manchester, UK This volume provides a comprehensive survey of current techniques for the use of mass spectrometry in organic chemical and biochemical analysis. Every aspect of modern instrumentation and technique is discussed. The new edition retains the effective division of material applied in the author's previous volume-theory, practical requirements and applications. However, it has been thoroughly revised and extended to include all recent advances in mass spectrometry, and is complete with extensive references. This is essentially a book for the practising mass spectroscopist which will appeal to both biochemists and organic chemists. Some familiarity with basic principles is assumed but the author has employed a style which makes this volume suitable for beginners and more advanced students alike. The present volume will be particularly valuable to anyone who wishes to evaluate and compare alternative techniques. Main Contents-Instrumentation; Sample Introduction; Chemical lonization (lon-Molecule Reactions); Negative lon Chemical lonization; The lonization of Labile Materials (Part I); The lonization of Labile Materials (Part II); Tandem Mass Spectrometry (The Dissociation of lons); Quantitative Analysis.

The proceedings contain lectures and contributed papers presented at the Latin American School of Physics in Caxambu, Brazil. Topics are related to a review of collision processes, excitation and ionization of molecules, ion formation by electron impact, mass and energy spectroscopy in collision reactions, desorption induced by ion and electron beams, and principles and applications of synchrotron radiation. The major theme of the school was “Current methods in collision processes.”

These proceedings, containing the texts of the invited lectures, cover all aspects of mass spectrometry including theory, fundamental studies, applications and instrumentation. Emphasis is placed on recent developments. A complete listing of the posters is included.