Focal plane detector assembly of a mass spectrometer

A mass spectrometer, comprising:

• an ion source configured to emit ions in a focused stream;
• a focal plane detector configured to receive at least a portion of the ions of the ion stream, and including a microchannel plate electron multiplier and a CCD detector array positioned to detect electrons emitting from the microchannel plate electron multiplier;
• and
• shielding means for shielding the ions of the stream from a voltage potential at the focal plane detector until the ions reach a focal plane of the spectrometer.

A method, comprising:

• generating a beam of ions;
• deflecting ions of the beam according to a charge/mass ratio of the respective ions;
• generating an electrical field in a microchannel plate electron multiplier capable of affecting ions of the beam;
• shielding the ions of the beam from the electrical field until the ions of the beam pass an electrically conductive mesh;
• receiving the ions of the beam into the microchannel plate electron multiplier;
• and
• detecting electrons exiting the microchannel plate electron multiplier with a CCD detector array.

A mass spectrometer, comprising:

• an ion source configured to emit ions in a focused stream;
• a microchannel plate electron multiplier configured to receive at least a portion of the ions of the ion stream;
• and
• a CCD detector array positioned to detect electrons emitting from the microchannel plate electron multiplier.