Patent ID: 6429426
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An ionization chamber with a non-radioactive ionization source comprising an evacuated compartment and a reaction compartment, into which an analyte may be introduced and discharged, the reaction compartment being separated from the evacuated compartment by a gas-impermeable partition, and a non-radioactive electron source being located in the evacuated compartment and forming a negative pole of an acceleration path, wherein a positive pole of the acceleration path is formed as an x-ray anode located in the evacuated compartment anda) x-ray light produced in the x-ray anode by impinging electrons reaches the partition, b) the partition is substantially impermeable to said impinging electrons but substantially permeable to the x-ray light produced in the x-ray anode, and c) in the reaction compartment at least one electrode is arranged for producing photoelectrons in response to x-ray light having passed through the partition.