The invention discloses a matrix-assisted
laser desorption ionization time-of-flight
mass spectrometer and a sample detection method. The
mass spectrometer comprises a sealed shell for forming a vacuum cavity, a
laser positioned outside the sealed shell, a target plate contained in the sealed shell, a modulation
electrode set, a first deflection
electrode set, a first reflecting mirror, a flight tube and a
detector, wherein the
laser is used for emitting
laser beams to the sealed shell; the first reflecting mirror is used for reflecting the
laser beams to enable the
laser beams to vertically irradiate a sample placed on the target plate; the modulation
electrode set is used for modulating
ion beams emitted by gasification and
ionization of the sample under the vertical
irradiation of the laser beams, and the
ion beams contain effective ions, neutral particles and non-selective ions; and the first deflection electrode set is used for generating a first
electric field to deflect a
flight direction of the effective ions in the modulated
ion beams, so that the effective ions subjected to
flight direction deflection enter one end of the flight tube in the axial direction of the flight tube and are received by the
detector arranged at the other end of the flight tube.