Patent ID: 8716653

Claim:
An ion detection system, comprising: a first ionization component configured to ionize a sample with a first polarity and generate a vapor of neutral molecules at or near atmospheric pressure; a separation component having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the first ionization component to receive the ionized sample and vapor of the neutral molecules, the separation component being configured to separate species in the ionized sample at or near atmospheric pressure; a second ionization component approximate the second end of the separation component, the second ionization component being configured to generate ions of a second polarity opposite the first polarity at or near atmospheric pressure; and a photo detector coupled to the second end of the separation component, the photo detector being configured to detect photons generated when the species of the ionized sample of the first polarity is combined with the ions of the second polarity facilitated by the vapor of the neutral molecules following a three-body process.