MICROSECOND PULSED GLOW-DISCHARGE TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS-SPECTROMETER

A linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) has been designed, constructed, and coupled with a glow discharge source in microsecond pulsed mode (MSPGD). Orthogonal acceleration, a DC quadrupole and deflecting pulse techniques are used to diminish kinetic distribution and the spatial distribution of ions, and for deflecting Ar+ ions in their flight path. Comparison was made in the same discharge source between MSPGD and DC discharge. The continuous ion current is only 0.2 nA in the DC discharge mode, while the peak ion current reaches over 100 nA in the MSPGD mode. In addition, the ratio of the repelled ions to total ions is much higher in MSPGD than with a DC discharge in TOFMS. The mechanism of MSPGD is discussed. A resolving power of 500 was achieved, which is excellent for elemental analysis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that a MSPGD-TOFMS combination has been described. The system is now being further optimized to improve its performance.