A plasma source mass spectrometer (20) having an ion beam extraction
electrode (45) associated with a skimmer cone (40) to restrict the
pumping of gas from a region (60) immediately behind the skimmer cone
orifice (42) to provide a higher pressure (e.g. 1 10.sup.-2 Torr) in the
region (60) compared to the pressure downstream of the electrode (45)
(e.g. 10.sup.-3 10.sup.-4 Torr). This provides a collisional gas volume
(60) for plasma (28) for attenuating polyatomic and multicharged
interfering ions prior to extraction of an ion beam (49). In one
embodiment a substance (e.g. hydrogen) can be supplied into the region
(60) to assist attenuation of polyatomic and multicharged interfering
ions by reactive or collisional interactions.