Patent ID: 7223966
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising: an ion pulser that outpulses a segment of a primary ion beam traveling initially in a first direction, the outpulsing being in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, such that the outpulsed ions travel as a group in a propagation direction having non-zero velocity components in the first direction and in the second direction, ions of identical masses forming respective ion fronts traveling in the propagation direction; an ion reflector to which the outpulsed ions are directed, a plane of reflection of the reflector having a non-zero angular offset β relative to the first direction about an axis perpendicular to the first and second directions, ions at different positions along a common ion front arriving at the reflector at different times; and an ion detector to which the reflected ions are directed and which has an angular offset of exactly 2β relative to the first direction about an axis perpendicular to the first and second directions, such that all ions of a common ion front have the same energy focal length and arrive at the detector simultaneously.