Patent ID: 9524855
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: H01J

Claim Text:
1. A detector system for a mass spectrometer for detecting time-dependent two-dimensional distributions of ions that exit a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer, the detector system comprising: (a) a metal channel dynode (MCD) disposed within a high vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer, said vacuum chamber comprising a wall having an aperture therethrough, said MCD comprising at least one perforated metal plate and configured to receive the exiting ions and eject electrons in response thereto; (b) at least one direct current (DC) power supply electrically coupled to the MCD; (c) an optically transparent plate or wall disposed against the vacuum chamber wall aperture and forming a vacuum seal therewith; (d) a phosphor coating disposed on the optically transparent plate or wall and within the vacuum chamber so as to receive the ejected electrons; (e) an image intensifier optically coupled to the optically transparent plate or wall so as to receive a quantity of photons generated at the phosphor coating and to emit an amplified quantity of photons proportionate to the quantity of photons, wherein the image intensifier includes an evacuated housing and the optically transparent plate or wall comprises a portion of the housing; and (f) an optical detector optically coupled the image intensifier and configured so as to receive the amplified quantity of photons.