Nanosecond pulse generator for time of flight spectrometry

This paper describes the ion-formation inside a time of flight (TOF) spectrometer ion source. The development of pulse generator for TOF started from a pulse duration of 5 microseconds (Cameron-Egger) and reached a value of 0.05 microseconds (W.Thomas). The ion push-out pulse developed by ITIM Cluj-Napoca has a 160 ns (minimum) duration, a height varying from 50 to 150 V and a period from 0.275 ms to 275 ms. The pulse is stable, precisely adjustable in time and free of fitter. The structure layout of pulse generator developed by ITIM Cluj-Napoca is made up of a pilot generator, a pulse-shaping stage, a pulse amplifier with anti-saturation protection and a final power amplifier. (author)