MASS SPECTROMETER WITH HIGH IONIZATION EFFICIENCY

摘要

The ionization efficiency of a mass spectrometer is increased by creating a potential well between the electron source (12) and the electron collector (20). The potential well is created by applying to the collector a reflectio n potential having an amplitude which is the same as or substantially the same as the amplitude of the potential applied to the electron source and a polarity which is the same as the polarity of the electron source potential. The potentials applied to the electron source and electron collector are relative to the ionization region effected between the source and collector. Many of the electrons produced by the electron source oscillate back and for th in the potential well thereby allowing those electrons a greater opportunity to interact with sample molecules to thus increase ionization efficiency.