Patent ID: 9190256
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. An ion source for a mass spectrometer comprising: one or more optical components arranged and adapted to focus, in use, a laser beam so as to impinge directly upon an upper surface of a target substrate in order to cause a release of ions from said upper surface, wherein said one or more optical components have an effective focal length ≦300 mm and wherein, in use, said one or more optical components direct said laser beam onto the target substrate at an angle θ with respect to the perpendicular to the target substrate, wherein θ≦3°; one or more ion guides arranged and adapted to receive ions released from said upper surface of said target substrate, wherein said one or more ion guides comprise a plurality of electrodes; and a device arranged and to apply an AC or RF voltage to at least some of said plurality of electrodes in order to create a pseudo-potential which acts to confine ions radially within said one or more ion guides; wherein said one or more ion guides are arranged and adapted to onwardly transmit said ions along an ion path which substantially bypasses said one or more optical components; and wherein said one or more optical components are arranged and adapted to direct said laser beam along a longitudinal axis of said one or more ion guides.