Ion processing: control and analysis

A method for processing charged particles having particle energy and particle mass, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying electric potentials to an electrode array (10) to create an electric potential field (600A) within a selected volume of space through which said charged particles can propagate;
• (b) introducing said charged particles into said selected volume of space;
• (c) controlling said applied electric potentials to establish an effective potential field (400A) within said selected volume of space for said charged particles, said effective potential field including a plurality of first effective potential wells (42), each being capable of confining said charged particles within a portion of said selected volume;
• and
• (d) varying said applied electric potentials to combine at least two of said first effective potential wells into a single new effective potential well that allows a transfer of charged particles confined to said combined first effective potential wells to said new effective potential well.

Charged particle processor apparatus for controlling the motion of charged particles having particle energy and particle mass, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality (10) of J electrodes (12) with J.gtoreq.3, numbered consecutively j=1,2, . . ., J and spaced apart from each other by electrically insulating means (24) in a selected longitudinal direction, for creating substantially independent electrical potentials (600A) in the volume between and defined by any two consecutive electrodes, each electrode having a plurality of perforations therein that are arranged so that a sequence comprising one such perforation from each electrode forms a channel (26) through which the charged particles can propagate;
• a vacuum enclosure (17) enclosing the plurality of electrodes;
• a plurality of electrical potential drivers (14), one such driver being electrically connected to each electrode, to apply an independent electrical potential to each electrode;
• and
• computer control means (18, 20) for controlling and varying with time the electrical potential applied by each driver to the corresponding electrode to establish an effective potential, including a potential well (42) with a well center, in the volume between any two consecutive electrodes, where a potential well is capable of confining a charged particle within the well, the computer control means varying the electrical potentials applied to the electrodes with time so that the potential well center is translated with time from the volume between electrodes number m and m+1 to the volume between electrodes m+1 and m+2(1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.J-2) so that a charged particle confined in this potential well is also translated in the selected longitudinal direction with time.

A method for processing a stream of charged particles that have particle energy and particle mass, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality (10) of J electrodes (12) with J.gtoreq.3, numbered consecutively j=1,2, . . ., J and spaced apart from each other by electrically insulating means (24) in selected longitudinal direction, for creating substantially independent electrical potentials (600A) in the volume between and defined by any two consecutive electrodes;
• providing each electrode with a plurality of perforations therein that are arranged so that a sequence comprising one such perforation from each electrode forms a channel (26) through which the charged particles can propagate;
• providing a plurality of electrical potential drivers (14), one such driver being electrically connected to each electrode, to apply an independent electrical potential to each electrode;
• and
• controlling and varying with time the electrical potential applied by each driver to the corresponding electrode to establish an effective potential, including a potential well (42) with a well center, in the volume between any two consecutive electrodes, where a potential well is capable of confining a charged particle within the well, the applied electrical potentials being varied with time so that the potential well center is translated with time from the volume between electrodes number m and m+1 to the volume between electrodes m+1and m+2(1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.J-2) so that a charged particle confined in this potential well is also translated in the selected longitudinal direction with time.