Two new methods for operating a time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer are suggested. The first is a beam compression method which allows separation of one kind of particle (onem/qratio) at a time, from a beam continously emitted by an ion source. Due to the continuous operation of the source a corresponding increase in signal‐to‐noise ratio is expected. The second method is based on forming a multiplex beam by modulating a continuously emitted ion beam. The use of a time array detector enables the collection of the data. The algorithm of analysis is presented. This method should have the increased throughput advantage. An improvement in signal‐to‐noise ratio need not take place.