The early development of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) spectroscopy.

The development of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) spectroscopy is traced from its 1973 conception by analogy to Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (FT-NMR) spectroscopy and its 1974 experimental demonstration to its 1978 demonstration as the technique of choice for examining complex ion chemistry. The intellectual connections between conventional NMR and ICR and FT-NMR are described. The theoretical prediction and experimental demonstration of the many advantageous features of FT-ICR are described. Subsequent FT-ICR technique developments and applications are mentioned briefly.