Patent ID: 8759756
Filing Date: 2014-06-24
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising: a holder that holds a sample; a primary ion irradiation unit that irradiates a surface of the sample with primary ions; an extractor electrode that opposes the sample; a potential gradient generator that generates a potential gradient; and a detector that detects a secondary ion emitted from the surface of the sample in accordance with a time of flight of the secondary ion, wherein, the surface of the sample has first and second positions, and the primary ion irradiation unit and the holder are disposed so that the primary ions are obliquely incident upon the surface of the sample, wherein a primary ion reaches the first position before another primary ion reaches the second position, and wherein the potential gradient generator generates the potential gradient so that a potential difference between the second position and the extractor electrode is larger than a potential difference between the first position and the extractor electrode.