摘要:
A relay control for an ion pump used in a FTICR MS. When it is desired to admit new sample gas into the vacuum system, the high voltage that powers the ion pump is removed from the pump electrode by opening the normally closed relay contact. A normally open contact relay contact is then closed to ground the pump electrodes and discharge any stray capacity. The sample valve is opened momentarily to admit new sample gas and after the ions are formed and trapped in the ion cell in the vacuum system the pump is restarted.
摘要:
The total number of ions created or obtained during an ionization or ion introduction event in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer are determined either by using an on-resonance experimental technique or an off-resonance experimental technique. Both techniques exploit ion magnetron motion. In the on-resonance technique the spectrometer is excited in the magnetron mode and the single resonance signal resulting from this excitation is detected to determine the total number of ions. In the off-resonance technique the magnetron mode is excited at a frequency that is near the magnetron frequency while simultaneously detecting the resulting ion motion. The off-resonance technique leaves the ion population in a state that is amenable to subsequent analysis.
摘要:
A quantity of electrons that will be used in the ionization event in an FTICR MS is preprogrammed. When the number of electrons produced reaches that number, the electron beam is turned off. This approach assures that the same number of electrons are used for every measurement and eliminates the variations due to fundamental characteristics of the electron source and the variations in temperature due to changing ambient conditions.
摘要:
A method for forming the seat in a pulsed sampling valve used in a FTICR MS. The valve has a ceramic ball (44) that closes against the seat to thereby seal the passageway (36) that is used for introduction of sample into the FTICR MS vacuum chamber. The material from which the seat is formed is chosen to withstand relatively high operating temperatures and a precise deburred hole is drilled in that material. The pre-load spring (48) exerts a force against the ball when the valve is assembled. The force initially exceeds the yield strength of the seat material to deform the material to form the seat.
摘要:
During operation of a FTICR MS the time after the opening of the pulsed valve sample gas inlet system that the peak of sample gas pressure occurs in the vacuum chamber is determined by measuring the amplitude of the ion pump current. The FTICR MS then uses that time and the known period of time for which a source of electrons used for an ionization event is energized to energize the electron source so that the known period of time includes the peak of vacuum chamber sample gas pressure. This allows ions to be created during the peak of the sample gas pressure to thereby obtain the maximum sensitivity during measurements.