[en] Short communication

[en] The description is given of a transit time mass spectrometer comprising an analyser chamber in which a pulse ion source, an ion detector and an ion reflexion system are placed along the same optical axis of the ions. The ion detector and the ion reflexion system are located on two opposite sides in relation to the pulse ion source, the latter being a source of which all the electrodes are transparent to the ions

[en] Abstract only

[en] In this paper electronic circuits are described for the time measuring channel of a mass spectrometer designed for space applications. In this context the principal aspects of space electronics are described, such as low power consumption, low weight and low volume as well as high reliability. (orig.)

No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] We have modeled, designed, built, and tested a novel reflectron time-of-flight (TOF) analyzer, which is capable of performing surface analysis using both secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and mass spectroscopy of recoiled ions (MSRI). All elements (including H and He) can be identified, with isotopic resolution, using both MSRI and SIMS. For ions of a given mass, the higher energy ions penetrate further into the reflectron before being turned around while the lower energy ions do not penetrate as deeply. By properly adjusting both the experimental geometry and the reflectron voltages, all ions of a given mass arrive at the detector simultaneously resulting in enhanced mass resolution compared with simple TOF detection. SIM spectra are complicated by molecular fragments in addition to elemental ions. In MSRI only elemental ions are detected. As a result, data analysis in MSRI is less complicated than in SIMS. Being able to use a single analyzer to selectively obtain SIMS or MSRI data provides complementary surface information. MSRI has a number of unique capabilities for surface studies. In situ, real-time surface analysis can be performed during film growth at pressures of ∼2.5 mTorr at the substrate by differentially pumping both the ion source and the reflectron analyzer region. It has been demonstrated that the ratio of the positive to negative ion yield is phase specific; for example, one can clearly distinguish the different forms of carbon (diamond versus graphite versus amorphous carbon) during film growth. MSRI analysis of poorly conducting surfaces is possible. copyright 1999 American Vacuum Society

[en] Combination of Three Dimensional Quadrupole Ion Trap and Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometer is very interesting because they both rely on time though in a different manner. The 3DQIT can accumulate many ions of which the desired ions can be selected and kept for a very long period of time. Ions can subsequently be extracted in a short burst from the 3DQIT to be sent in a TOFMS. This process can be eased if the trapped ions are cooled by collisions with gas molecules inside the trap. We will discuss from the basic principles of physics what are the best conditions leading the maximum number of usable ions to penetrate in the TOFMS while keeping the resolving power at an acceptable level

[en] Different types of time of flight mass spectrometers are presented. (authors)

[en] A miniature leaser mass spectrometer, called LASMA, was built around the concept of the first space-born laser time-of-flight mass-spectrometer, the core analyser of LIMA-D complex (Laser Ion Mass Analyser - Distant), developed for the space mission PHOBOS. The new device is a close analogue of its predecessor, but its size and mass are by an order of magnitude lower. In concern to space research, the analyser is suitable for in-situ investigation of the elemental and isotopic composition of the regolith of small bodies and cometary nuclei. The earth-based modification of the instrument is convenient for environmental applications and is capable to perform an express analysis of samples of soil, water and plant origin. The paper presents moments of its instrumental design and estimation of the analytical characteristics. (authors)