Multi-pass reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer
AssigneeThe University of Northern Iowa
InventorCurtiss D. Hanson
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Abstract
A novel design for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer capable of tandem mass spectrometry measurements with high resolution and high sensitivity using two variable reflectrons in a co-linear geometry. Variably switched reflectrons are oriented coaxially on opposing ends of the ion flight region allowing multiple passes of the ions along the flight region permitting high resolution, tandem mass spectrometry experiments to be performed. An electrostatic particle guide is incorporated to ensure high ion transmission efficiency in a multi-pass system. In addition to permitting the high transmission efficiency of ions, the EPG can be used in a bipolar pulsed mode to isolate ions of interest for structural study.
Claims11
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer, comprising
- a sealed housing containing a source region, an ion flight region, and a detector region,
- a vacuum pump for maintaining a vacuum within the housing,
- a sample holder for supporting a sample, or an area in which a sample is ionized from a gaseous state,
- a sample ionizer for producing ions from the sample, one or more charged electrodes in the source region to accelerate the ions through the ion flight region,
- a first ion reflector comprising at least one externally switched electrode and disposed between the source region and the ion flight region,
- a second ion reflector comprising at least one externally switched electrode and disposed between said ion flight region and the detector region,
- said second ion reflector coaxial with said first ion reflector,
- an ion detector located downstream of the second ion reflector to detect the ions as a function of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.