Gas jet deflection in pressurized systems

A method comprising:

• generating a pressure differential in a particle accelerator system using a pumping system, such that a first region of the particle accelerator system is at a higher pressure than a second region of the particle accelerator system;
• and
• directing an ion beam along a beam axis from an ion source of the particle accelerator system to a target chamber of the particle accelerator system, wherein
• the target chamber is in the first region of the particle accelerator system;
• a beam accelerator is in the second region of the particle accelerator system;
• a gas-deflector plate is positioned along the beam axis between the first region and the second region of the particle accelerator system;
• and
• jetting gas moves through a channel formed in the gas-deflector plate from the first region to the second region and enters the second region by exiting an asymmetric opening formed in the gas-deflector plate.

A system comprising:

• a higher-pressure region and a lower pressure region;
• a plate with a first surface facing the higher-pressure region, a second surface facing the lower pressure region, a channel extending through the plate, and a beam axis extending through the channel;
• and
• a jet-deflector component coupled to the plate and extending outward from the plate into the lower pressure region.

The system of claim 19, further comprising:

• an ion source, an ion accelerator, a differential pumping system, and a target chamber, wherein:
• the plate is positioned between the target chamber and the differential pumping system;
• and
• the target chamber comprises the higher-pressure region and the differential pumping system comprises the lower pressure region.

The system of claim 19, further comprising:

• a mass spectrometer having a sample chamber, a differential pressure stage, and an ionization chamber, wherein:
• the plate is positioned between the sample chamber and the differential pumping stage;
• and
• the sample chamber comprises the higher-pressure region and the differential pressure stage comprises the lower pressure region.