Cascaded-Signal-Intensifier-Based Ion Imaging Detector for Mass Spectrometer

摘要

A detector system for a mass spectrometer comprises: a metal channel dynode (MCD) comprising at least one perforated metal plate configured to receive the exiting ions and eject electrons in response; a plurality of electron-to-photon converters arranged in a parallel stacked configuration, each such converter comprising a substrate plate having a phosphor coating on a first face; and an electrode film disposed on the phosphor coating; at least one photocathode, each of the at least one photocathode disposed between a respective pair of the plurality of electron-to-photon converters; an optical detector optically coupled a last one of the electron-to-photon converters; and at least one direct current power supply configured to apply, in operation, a respective bias electrical potential to the MCD and each of the electrode films and photocathodes.

主权项

1. A detector system for a mass spectrometer for detecting time-dependent two-dimensional distributions of ions that exit a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer, the detector system comprising:
(a) a metal channel dynode (MCD) comprising at least one perforated metal plate and configured to receive the exiting ions and eject electrons in response thereto; (b) a plurality of electron-to-photon converters, each comprising:
(b1) a substrate plate comprising first and second parallel faces;(b2) a phosphor coating on the first face of the substrate plate; and(b3) an electrode film disposed on the phosphor coating,wherein the electron-to-photon converters are arranged in a parallel stacked configuration such that the electrode film of the substrate plate of a first one of the electron-to-photon converters faces the MCD and such that the electrode film of every succeeding electron-to-photon converter faces the second face of the substrate plate of the respective preceding electron-to-photon converter; (c) at least one photocathode, each of the at least one photocathode disposed between a respective pair of the plurality of electron-to-photon converters; (d) an optical detector optically coupled a last one of the electron-to-photon converters; and (e) at least one direct current (DC) power supply configured to apply, in operation, a respective bias electrical potential to the MCD and each of the electrode films and photocathodes.