Mobility spectrometer

An apparatus for separating and analyzing ions, comprising:

• an ionization source to generate ions,
• an ion drift cell coupled to said ionization source, in which the ions are separated according to their mobility and which comprises electrodes for focusing the ions, wherein said focusing comprises hyperbolic field focusing;
• and,
• a detector coupled to said ion drift cell to detect the ions.

An apparatus for separating and analyzing ions, comprising:

• an ionization source to generate ions,
• an ion drift cell coupled to said ionization source, in which the ions are separated according to their mobility and which comprises electrodes for focusing the ions, said focusing consisting of a combination of periodic field focusing and hyperbolic field focusing;
• and,
• a detector coupled to said ion drift cell to detect the ions.

A method for separating and analyzing ions, comprising:

• generating ions from an ion source,
• separating ions in terms of their mobility wherein said step of separating comprises transporting the ions in a superposition of a periodic focusing field and a hyperbolic focusing field;
• and,
• detecting said ions.

A method for separating and analyzing ions, comprising:

• generating ions from an ion source,
• separating ions in terms of their mobility wherein said step of separating comprises transporting the ions in a hyperbolic focusing field;
• and,
• detecting said ions.

A method for separating and analyzing ions, comprising:

• generating ions from an ion source,
• separating ions in terms of their mobility wherein said step of separating comprises transporting the ions in a combination of a periodic focusing field and a hyperbolic focusing field;
• and,
• detecting said ions.

An apparatus for performing ion mobility spectrometry comprising:

• an ionization source;
• a drift cell to receive ions from said ionization source and having a parallel electrode assembly comprising components selected from the group consisting of at least one field correcting ring electrode and at least one movable cylindrical electrode;
• and,
• an ion detector to receive and detect ions from said drift cell.

An apparatus for performing ion mobility spectrometry comprising:

• an ionization source;
• a drift cell to receive ions from said ionization source and having a parallel electrode assembly comprising at least one radius of curvature electrode;
• and,
• an ion detector to receive and detect ions from said drift cell.

A method of collecting ion mobility spectrometric information comprising:

• generating a gaseous sample of ions using a technique selected from the group consisting of:
• matrix assisted laser desorption ionization, electrospray ionization, laser ionization, photoionization, an electron ionization, chemical ionization, electric field ionization, surface ionization, radioactive ionization, discharge ionization;
• and, multiphoton ionization,
• separating said gaseous sample of ions into packets of ions according to the ion mobilities of said packets through use of a drift cell having a parallel electrode assembly comprising components selected from the group consisting of at least one field correcting ring electrode and at least one movable cylindrical electrode;
• and,
• detecting said ion packets.

A method of collecting ion mobility spectrometric information comprising:

• generating a gaseous sample of ions using a technique selected from the group consisting of:
• matrix assisted laser desorption ionization, electrospray ionization, laser ionization, photoionization, an electron ionization, chemical ionization, electric field ionization, surface ionization, radioactive ionization, discharge ionization;
• and, multiphoton ionization,
• separating said gaseous sample of ions into packets of ions according to the ion mobilities of said packets through use of a drift cell having a parallel electrode assembly comprising at least one radius of curvature electrode;
• and,
• detecting said ion packets.