Patent ID: 7838820
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. An ion trap mass spectrometry system, comprising: an ion source for generating ions from a sample to be analyzed; a resistive drift tube coupled to an output of said ion source for receiving said ions, said drift tube having a voltage applied along its length, wherein a resulting electric field decelerates said ions to provide cooled ions having a mean translational kinetic energy of less than 5 keV, and wherein an inner surface layer of said resistive drift tube comprises a semi-conductor devoid of both electrodes and electrically insulating materials and being operable to reduce distortions in said electric field within said drift tube by transferring surface charge away from said inner surface of said drift tube, said semi-conducting layer having a resistance between 10 a miniature ion trap coupled to an output of said resistive drift tube for trapping said cooled ions, wherein said miniature ion trap provides apertures <5 mm; and a time-of-flight spectrometer coupled to said miniature ion trap for analyzing said cooled ions, wherein said system applies a direct current, end-to-end voltage difference of 20V/cm or less across said resistive drift tube.