Quasi-planar multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer

摘要

A multi-reflecting time-of-flight (MR-TOF) mass spectrometer, which includes two quasi-planar electrostatic ion mirrors extended along drift direction (Z) and is formed of parallel electrodes, separated by a field-free region. The MR-TOF includes a pulsed ion source to release ion packets at a small angle to X-direction which is orthogonal to the drift direction Z. Ion packets are reflected between ion mirrors and drift along the drift direction. The mirrors are arranged to provide time-of-flight focusing ion packets on the receiver. The MR-TOF mirrors provide spatial focusing in the Y-direction orthogonal to both drift direction Z and ion injection direction X. In a preferred embodiment, at least one mirror has a feature providing periodic spatial focusing of ion packets in the drift Z-direction.

主权项

1. A multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising:
two electrostatic ion mirrors extended along a drift Z-direction and formed of parallel electrodes, wherein said ion mirrors are separated by a field-free region, wherein said parallel electrodes of at least one of said ion mirrors comprises an auxiliary electrode, and wherein said auxiliary electrode comprises a plurality of mask windows spaced along the drift Z-direction of the auxiliary electrode, each of the plurality of mask windows has a Z-directional length and a Y-directional height, and wherein the Z-directional length is larger than the Y-directional height; a pulsed ion source to release ion packets into said field-free region at an angle to an X-direction which is orthogonal to the drift Z-direction, such that the ion packets are reflected between said ion mirrors and drift along the drift Z-direction; and a receiver to receive the ion packets; wherein said ion mirrors are positioned to provide time-of-flight focusing on said receiver and to provide spatial focusing in a Y-direction orthogonal to both the drift Z-direction and the X-direction.