Abstract: An air cooled inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) is disclosed. The interface structure has a configuration that it can rapidly transfer heat away from the front surface of the interface that is exposed to a high temperature plasma, while maintaining heat in the ion beam to avoid recombination and clustering. The air cooled interface of the present system comprises of a set of fins for rapid heat transfer, which may be placed along the sides of the ICP-MS systems in a variety of orientations. Open-cell metal foam is also used to increase heat transfer efficiency. The system may be cooled by natural convention or forced convection using one or more air fans.

Abstract: An air cooled inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) is disclosed. The interface structure has a configuration that it can rapidly transfer heat away from the front surface of the interface that is exposed to a high temperature plasma, while maintaining heat in the ion beam to avoid recombination and clustering. The air cooled interface of the present system comprises of a set of fins for rapid heat transfer, which may be placed along the sides of the ICP-MS systems in a variety of orientations. Open-cell metal foam is also used to increase heat transfer efficiency. The system may be cooled by natural convention or forced convection using one or more air fans.

Abstract: Certain configurations of devices are described herein that include DC multipoles that are effective to direct ions. In some instances, the devices include a first multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct first ions of an entering particle beam along a first exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to an entry trajectory of the particle beam. The devices may also include a second multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct the received first ions from the first multipole along a second exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to the first exit trajectory.

Abstract: Certain configurations of devices are described herein that include DC multipoles that are effective to direct ions. In some instances, the devices include a first multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct first ions of an entering particle beam along a first exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to an entry trajectory of the particle beam. The devices may also include a second multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct the received first ions from the first multipole along a second exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to the first exit trajectory.

Abstract: Certain configurations of devices are described herein that include DC multipoles that are effective to direct ions. In some instances, the devices include a first multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct first ions of an entering particle beam along a first exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to an entry trajectory of the particle beam. The devices may also include a second multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct the received first ions from the first multipole along a second exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to the first exit trajectory.

Abstract: Certain configurations of devices are described herein that include DC multipoles that are effective to direct ions. In some instances, the devices include a first multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct first ions of an entering particle beam along a first exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to an entry trajectory of the particle beam. The devices may also include a second multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct the received first ions from the first multipole along a second exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to the first exit trajectory.

Abstract: A mass analysis system including a sample inlet arranged to introduce a sample and an ion source coupled to the sample inlet and arranged to ionize a portion of the sample into ions. The system also includes a sampler element having a sample orifice arranged to receive the sample ions into a first vacuum chamber. The system includes a skimmer element having a skimmer orifice arranged to receive the sample ions from the first vacuum chamber into a second vacuum chamber where the skimmer orifice is of a first size. The system further includes a third cone element having a third cone orifice of a second size arranged to receive the sample ions from the second vacuum chamber into a third vacuum chamber where the third cone is configured to allow a continuum flow of ions through the third cone orifice. The third chamber includes an ion optics assembly and mass analyzer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer system is provided that is configurable for operation in both a Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) and Dynamic Reaction Cell (DRC). A pressurized or collision cell included in the mass spectrometer encloses a quadrupole and is coupled to a source of both inert and reactive gas. To operate in the KED mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of the inert gas and an energy barrier formed between the collision cell and a downstream mass analyzer. Interferer ions collided with the inert gas can lose on average more energy relative to analyte ions of the same mass to charge ratio and can thus be trapped by the energy barrier in greater proportions. To operate instead in the DRC mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of gas that is reactive with the interferer ions only. Mass filtering of the product ions can then transmit proportionally more of the analyte ions to the downstream mass analyzer. A mode controller coordinates the two modes of operation.

Abstract: Certain configurations of devices are described herein that include DC multipoles that are effective to direct ions. In some instances, the devices include a first multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct first ions of an entering particle beam along a first exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to an entry trajectory of the particle beam. The devices may also include a second multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct the received first ions from the first multipole along a second exit trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to the first exit trajectory.

Abstract: A method of introducing a sample into an atomic spectrometer utilizes a spray head including a vibratable mesh. A liquid sample is conducted to one face of the mesh and the mesh is vibrated to expel sample droplets from the other face of the mesh into the proximal end of a flow passage axially spaced from the mesh. Also, a low pressure gas as flowed into the proximal end of the flow passage to mix with the droplets to form an aerosol in the flow passage. The vibrating of the mesh is controlled to provide in the aerosol a selected total volume of monodisperse droplets while the flow of the carrier gas is independently controlled to provide a selected rate of flow of the aerosol along the flow passage thereby to optimize consumption of the sample. Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer system is provided that is configurable for operation in both a Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) and Dynamic Reaction Cell (DRC). A pressurized or collision cell included in the mass spectrometer encloses a quadrupole and is coupled to a source of both inert and reactive gas. To operate in the KED mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of the inert gas and an energy barrier formed between the collision cell and a downstream mass analyzer. Interferer ions collided with the inert gas can lose on average more energy relative to analyte ions of the same mass to charge ratio and can thus be trapped by the energy barrier in greater proportions. To operate instead in the DRC mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of gas that is reactive with the interferer ions only. Mass filtering of the product ions can then transmit proportionally more of the analyte ions to the downstream mass analyzer. A mode controller coordinates the two modes of operation.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is provided that is configurable for operation in both a Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) mode and a dynamic reaction cell (DRC) mode. To operate in the KED mode, a collision cell can be filled with a quantity of the inert gas, and an energy barrier can be formed between the collision cell and a downstream mass analyzer. To operate instead in the DRC mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of gas that is reactive with the interferer ions.

Abstract: A gas delivery system for a cell-based mass spectrometer includes a mass flow controller having an input coupled to a gas source. A three-way valve includes an input coupled to an output of the mass flow controller, a first output coupled to a vacuum system, and a second output normally coupled to a reaction or collision cell. A cell is positioned inside a vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer where the second output of the three-way valve is coupled to an inlet of the cell and the mass flow controller provides a gas to the cell that increases a pressure inside the cell relative to the pressure in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A method of introducing a sample into an atomic spectrometer utilizes a spray head including a vibratable mesh. A liquid sample is conducted to one face of the mesh and the mesh is vibrated to expel sample droplets from the other face of the mesh into the proximal end of a flow passage axially spaced from the mesh. Also, a low pressure gas as flowed into the proximal end of the flow passage to mix with the droplets to form an aerosol in the flow passage. The vibrating of the mesh is controlled to provide in the aerosol a selected total volume of monodisperse droplets while the flow of the carrier gas is independently controlled to provide a selected rate of flow of the aerosol along the flow passage thereby to optimize consumption of the sample. Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is provided that is configurable for operation in both a Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) mode and a dynamic reaction cell (DRC) mode. To operate in the KED mode, a collision cell can be filled with a quantity of the inert gas, and an energy barrier can be formed between the collision cell and a downstream mass analyzer. To operate instead in the mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of gas that is reactive with the interferer ions.

Abstract: A mass analysis system including a sample inlet arranged to introduce a sample and an ion source coupled to the sample inlet and arranged to ionize a portion of the sample into ions. The system also includes a sampler element having a sample orifice arranged to receive the sample ions into a first vacuum chamber. The system includes a skimmer element having a skimmer orifice arranged to receive the sample ions from the first vacuum chamber into a second vacuum chamber where the skimmer orifice is of a first size. The system further includes a third cone element having a third cone orifice of a second size arranged to receive the sample ions from the second vacuum chamber into a third vacuum chamber where the third cone is configured to allow a continuum flow of ions through the third cone orifice. The third chamber includes an ion optics assembly and mass analyzer.

Abstract: A gas delivery system for a cell-based mass spectrometer includes a mass flow controller having an input coupled to a gas source. A three-way valve includes an input coupled to an output of the mass flow controller, a first output coupled to a vacuum system, and a second output normally coupled to a reaction or collision cell. A cell is positioned inside a vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer where the second output of the three-way valve is coupled to an inlet of the cell and the mass flow controller provides a gas to the cell that increases a pressure inside the cell relative to the pressure in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A laser scattering based imaging technique is utilized in order to visualize the aerosol droplets in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch from an aerosol source to the site of analytical measurements. The resulting snapshots provide key information about the spatial distribution of the aerosol introduced by direct and indirect injection devices: 1) a direct injection high efficiency nebulizer (DIHEN); 2) a large-bore DIHEN (LB-DIHEN); and 3) a PFA microflow nebulizer with a PFA Scott-type spray chamber. Moreover, particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to study the in-situ behavior of the aerosol before interaction with, for example, plasma, while the individual surviving droplets are explored by particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). Further, the velocity distribution of the surviving droplets demonstrates the importance of the initial droplet velocities in complete desolvation of the aerosol for optimum analytical performance in ICP spectrometries.

Abstract: Nozzles and nebulizers able to produce aerosol with optimum and reproducible quality based on feedback information obtained using laser imaging techniques. Two laser-based imaging techniques based on particle image velocimetry (PTV) and optical patternation map and contrast size and velocity distributions for indirect and direct pneumatic nebulizations in plasma spectrometry. Two pulses from thin laser sheet with known time difference illuminate droplets flow field. Charge coupled device (CCL)) captures scattering of laser light from droplets, providing two instantaneous particle images. Pointwise cross-correlation of corresponding images yields two-dimensional velocity map of aerosol velocity field. For droplet size distribution studies, solution is doped with fluorescent dye and both laser induced florescence (LIF) and Mie scattering images are captured simultaneously by two CCDs with the same field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing direct liquid sample introduction using a nebulizer are provided. The apparatus and method include a short torch having an inner tube and an outer tube, and an elongated adapter having a cavity for receiving the nebulizer and positioning a nozzle tip of the nebulizer a predetermined distance from a tip of the outer tube of the short torch. The predetermined distance is preferably about 2-5 mm.