Ion source vessel and methods

A method of providing ions, comprising:

• providing a vessel defining a channel said vessel comprising a gas inlet extending into said channel, an ionizer extending into the channel to ionize a sample in the channel;
• and an outlet extending from said channel to guide ions to an entrance of an analyser;
• providing ions from said ionizer into the channel;
• maintaining the pressure of the channel at a pressure in excess of 100 Torr,
• maintaining the pressure exterior to said channel at said outlet at pressure in excess of 0.1 Torr;
• introducing a gas flow from a gas source at a non-ambient pressure into the channel to sweep across said ionizer to guide and entrain ions from said ionizer to said outlet.

An analysis device for analyzing molecules or atoms, comprising:

• an ion source, comprising:
• at least one gas source, providing gas;
• a vessel defining a channel;
• a gas inlet extending from the gas source into said channel, for introducing a gas flow into the channel from said gas source, to maintain the pressure of said channel in excess of 100 Torr;
• a sample inlet extending into the channel for introducing sample within said channel;
• an ionizer to ionize the sample in the channel;
• an outlet extending from said channel;
• said vessel sufficiently sealed to allow said channel to be pressurized, at a pressure in excess of 100 Torr;
• an analyser stage for analysing ions from said ion source, said analyser having an inlet in flow communication with said outlet of said ion source;
• wherein a region connecting said inlet of said analyser stage to said ion source is at a pressure in excess of 0.1 Torr and wherein said at least one gas source provides a gas flow that sweeps across said ionizer to guide and entrain ions from said ionizer to said outlet.

A method of providing ions, comprising:

• providing a vessel defining a channel said vessel comprising a gas inlet extending into said channel, at least one sample inlet extending into the channel;
• and an outlet extending from said channel to guide ions to an entrance of an analyser;
• providing a voltage between the sample inlet into the channel, and said channel to produce electrospray ions;
• introducing a gas flow from a gas source at a non-ambient pressure into said channel to entrain electrospray ions and guide electrospray ions to said outlet.