Abstract:
A combined ion discharge tube and an ion guide system is disclosed. The ion discharge tube comprises of a cathode tube and an anode surface. The discharge tube acts as the cathode, whereas the anode can be any number of different configurations. In one embodiment the discharge tube is set inside a quadrupole ion guide, with the walls of the ion guide being the anode. In other embodiments, the discharge tube is placed inside the rods of the quadrupole and the inner walls of the rods or a separate plate acting as the anode. In all configurations, the ions are formed by the discharge tube and are introduced into the RF confinement of an ion guide to increase ion transfer efficiency.
Abstract:
Mass spectrometer combination and ion source subcombination therefor. The mass spectrometer has a magnetron ion source, a quadrupole ion analyzer and an ion collector with digital counting read-out and this is useful for residual gas analysis, partial pressure analysis and chemical composition determination and is particularly suited for ultra-high vacuum usage yielding high sensitivity and improved signal-to-noise ratio, consistent with low weight and bulk. The ion source is constructed so that photons are not produced at those loci which can be viewed through the ion exit aperture thereof. Thus, the spectrometer collector is free from impingement thereon of light energy and the signal-to-noise ratio of the instrument is improved thereby.
Abstract:
One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of mass spectrometric analysis that includes producing either glow discharge within a noble gas between 3-100 mBar pressure, sampling and conditioning glow discharge products within a gas flow through a conductive channel, removing charged particles while transferring excited Ridberg atoms, and mixing conditioned discharge products with analyte flow within an enclosed chamber at elevated temperatures above 150° Celsius for producing a Penning reaction between analyte molecules and Ridberg atoms. The method further includes sampling, by a gas flow, said analyte ions for mass spectrometric analysis, and at least one of the following steps: (i) removing charge within said conditioning channel; (ii) coaxially mixing of analyte flow with the flow of conditioned plasma; and (iii) cooling of the mixed flow within a sonic or supersonic jet for reducing the region of Penning ionization to cold jet.
Abstract:
This mass spectrometric device is provided with a sample container (8) for placing a measurement sample (12) therein, a detector (9) analyzing the mass of a sample and detecting a drug, or the like, in the sample, a dielectric container (3) linked to the sample container for running a discharge current into air to provoke ionization, a valve (2) for sending air intermittently to the sample container, the dielectric container and the detector, a barrier discharge high-voltage power source (6) to be discharged by the dielectric container, a current detection unit (5) connected to the barrier discharge high-voltage power source for detecting a discharge current (28), a discharge-start timing detection unit (7) connected to the current detection unit for detecting the discharge-start timing based on the current detection result from the current detection unit to send a discharge-start timing signal (17), and a control unit (11) for controlling each constituent.
Abstract:
An ion source includes a plasma generator for supplying plasma at an ionization region proximate to a sample surface. The plasma generator applies energy that may be utilized for desorbing analytes from the sample surface as well as for generating plasma by which analytes are excited or ionized. Desorption and ionization/excitation may be controlled as individual modes. The ion source may be interfaced with an ion-based or optical-based spectrometer. A sample support may be provided, which may be capable of performing analytical separation.
Abstract:
Improvements to a side-on Penning trap include methods to stabilize ions in the trap. The ions are stabilized by injecting ions in the focusing region of the non-uniform DC fields produced by the pad electrodes of the trap. Ions are injected along an injection axis shifted from the central axis of a gap between a positively biased electrode pad and negatively biased electrode pad of the trap. Improvements also include methods to compensate for the Lorentz force that is produced when ions are injected into a side-on Penning trap. Electrodes of an ion injection device are DC biased so that the electrodes produce an electric field along the axis of the device that compensates for the Lorentz force. Finally, methods are provided to increase the m/z range of ions injected into a side-on Penning trap by pre-trapping ions just before injection of the ions into the trap.