MINIATURE TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETER

摘要

A miniature time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) was developed for a NASA/ASTID program beginning 2008. The primary targeted application for this technology is the detection of non-volatile (refractory) and biological materials on landed planetary missions. Both atmospheric and airless bodies are potential candidate destinations for the purpose of characterizing mineralogy, and searching for evidence of existing or extant biological activity.

主权项

1. An unitary detector block configured for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising:
a center hole ion drift region in the detector block; optionally, a first channel plate detector mounted on the proximal end of the detector block; a second channel plate detector mounted on the distal end of the detector block; a pulse pin ion gate comprising:
pin element positioned laterally in the center hole and electrically isolated from the center hole;first and second grids electrically connected to the center hole ion drift region and positioned proximal and lateral to the pin element in the center hole.