Patent ID: 8981290
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for fragmenting ions of sample substances, comprising: (a) a multipole ion guide comprising a set of rods having an axis, an entrance end and an exit end through which ions enter and exit the ion guide, respectively; (b) an enclosure having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture through which ions enter and exit the enclosure, respectively, wherein the multipole ion guide is located within the enclosure; (c) a substance configured to emit low-energy electrons upon impingement of photons, the substance being located within the enclosure; (d) a photon source configured to produce photons for generating low-energy electrons upon impingement of the photons on the substance; (e) means for directing the photons between the set of rods onto the substance; (f) means for directing the low-energy electrons to a region between the entrance end and the exit end proximal to the axis such that the kinetic energies of the low-energy electrons are less than 10 eV in the region; (g) means for applying AC and/or DC voltages to the set of rods.