Fourier Transform Electrostatic Linear Ion Trap and Reflectron Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

A method for detecting ions from an electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) using a microchannel plate (MCP) detector that does not physically obstruct an ion path of a mass spectrometer, comprising:

• instructing an MCP detector to receive an ion packet along an ion path of mass spectrometer through a hollow central cylindrical tube of the MCP detector using a processor, wherein the MCP detector includes coaxial rings of MCPs surrounding the hollow central cylindrical tube;
• instructing the MCP detector to transmit the ion packet along the ion path to an ELIT through holes in the center of a first set of reflectron plates of the ELIT to oscillate the ion packet between the first set and a second set of reflectron plates of the ELIT using the processor, wherein the first set and the second set are aligned with the MCP detector along the ion path;
• instructing the ELIT to transmit the oscillated ion packet back to the MCP detector along the ion path through the holes of the first set using the processor;
• and
• instructing the MCP detector to detect ions of the oscillated ion packet that are radially deflected from the ion path using the rings of MCPs using the processor.

A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory and tangible computer-readable storage medium whose contents include a program with instructions being executed on a processor to perform a method for detecting ions from an electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) using a microchannel plate (MCP) detector that does not physically obstruct an ion path of a mass spectrometer, comprising:

• providing a system, wherein the system comprises one or more distinct software modules, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise a control module;
• instructing an MCP detector to receive an ion packet along an ion path of mass spectrometer through a hollow central cylindrical tube of the MCP detector using the control module, wherein the MCP detector includes coaxial rings of MCPs surrounding the hollow central cylindrical tube;
• instructing the MCP detector to transmit the ion packet along the ion path to an ELIT through holes in the center of a first set of reflectron plates of the ELIT to oscillate the ion packet between the first set and a second set of reflectron plates of the ELIT using the control module, wherein the first set and the second set are aligned with the MCP detector along the ion path;
• instructing the ELIT to transmit the oscillated ion packet back to the MCP detector along the ion path through the holes of the first set using the control module;
• and
• instructing the MCP detector to detect ions of the oscillated ion packet that are radially deflected from the ion path using the rings of MCPs using the control module.