Mass spectrometers having segmented electrodes and associated methods

An apparatus comprising:

• an ion source configured to generate a spatially-extended distribution of ions from a sample;
• an electric sector configured with shunts and configured to disperse ions spatially based on their energy;
• a magnetic sector configured to disperse ions spatially based on their energy, the magnetic sector including a detector configured to detect a plurality of mass-to-charge ratios associated with the ions;
• a plurality of segmented electrodes positioned between the ion source and the detector, wherein the segmented electrodes are configured to provide a predetermined electric field profile in a gap of the electric sector;
• and a controller configured to selectively apply a predetermined voltage across at least two of the segmented electrodes for forming the predetermined electric field profile that focuses the ions on a focal plane of the detector according to the sample.