0000000000444785
AUTHOR
R. Saintola
The squeezer ion guide
Abstract The properties of an ordinary ion guide can be improved by inserting a grid between the nozzle and the skimmer. When positive ions are transported, an electric potential lower than +10 V is connected to the grid and one of the order of − 10 V to the skimmer. Efficient focusing is achieved between the nozzle and the grid by a combined action of the viscous helium flow field and the weak electric field. The focusing device is called a “squeezer”. It can be extended by adding more grids, a second skimmer, and differential pumping. Contrary to the first grid, the additional elements act more or less like electrostatic lenses in medium vacuum. With the squeezer ion guide, ions created i…
Focusing ions by viscous drag and weak electric fields in an ion guide
Abstract A new special ion guide has one or more grids at low electric potential in the space between nozzle and skimmer. Viscous drag caused by helium flow is used together with weak electric fields for focusing ions through the skimmer. A typical yield through the skimmer is 75% of that through the nozzle. The focusing device is called a “squeezer”. Most properties of the “squeezer ion guide” are similar to those of an ordinary ion guide. Because the kinetic energies are only of the order of 10 eV, however, problems caused by ion scattering are greatly reduced as compared to ordinary ion guides.