Abstract: A platen for a metallographic grinder has an outer peripheral rim with an upper surface having a lower height. Also, fingers engaging a specimen are allowed to move laterally (i.e., wobble) to minimize the tipping forces on the specimen during the grinding process. Either one or both of these structures can be employed and results in a much flatter specimen surface for use in subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A chromatography system includes a modulator, a chromatograph, a cooler, and a detector. The chromatograph is connected to the modulator by a first heated transfer line. The detector is connected to the modulator by a second heated transfer line. The cooler is connected to the modulator. The modulator is arranged outside of the chromatograph.

Abstract: A method of determining mass defect plots with user-defined mass scaling, filtering, and labeling in a mass spectrometer is described. An implementation of the method comprises, (i) generating a mass defect plot from the data, (ii) filtering all ions in the mass defect plot that do not have an associated isotopologue ion, (iii) selecting an unidentified ion, (iv) determining an isotope pattern of the unidentified ion, (v) identifying one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion; (vi) searching formulas containing one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion, (vii) determining a chemical formula of the identified ion, and (viii) displaying the chemical formulas for the unidentified ion on a screen.

Abstract: An ion source includes a base, a first chamber, a second chamber and an extractor. The first chamber is disposed downstream of the base and defines a first internal volume having a first pressure. The second chamber is disposed downstream of the first chamber and defines a second internal volume having a second pressure. The second pressure is less than the first pressure. The repeller electrode is disposed within the first chamber. The extractor is disposed downstream of the second chamber.

Abstract: A multi-reflecting time of flight mass analyser is disclosed in which the ion flight path is maintained relatively small and the duty cycle is made relatively high. Spatial focusing of the ions in the dimension (z-dimension) in which the mirrors (36) are elongated can be eliminated whilst maintaining a reasonably high sensitivity and resolution.

Abstract: A method for modulating analytes in a gaseous stream passing through a capillary, wherein the analytes are retained in a trapping zone of the capillary, or allowed to pass therethrough, based on certain conditions. The method includes, during a first time period, heating the trapping zone of the capillary to a first temperature to desorb analytes therewithin and allow the analytes to pass therethrough, and during a second time period, cooling the capillary to a second temperature that is sufficient to trap and focus the analytes within the trapping zone. During the first time period, the method also includes retaining heat at the capillary during to minimize the load on a cooling device thermally connected thereto, and during the second time period, selectively allowing thermal transfer toward the cooling device.

Abstract: A multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-TOF MS) includes an ion source, an orthogonal accelerator, and an ion mirror assembly. The ion source is capable of generating a beam of ions, and is arranged to accelerate the ions in a first direction along a first axis. The orthogonal accelerator is arranged to accelerate the ions in a second direction along a second axis. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. The ion mirror assembly includes a plurality of gridless planar mirrors and a plurality of electrodes. The plurality of electrodes are arranged to provide time-focusing of ions along a third axis substantially independent of ion energy and ion position.

Abstract: This disclosure relates a device for a chromatographic system, comprising: a chamber defining an internal portion, a capillary disposed within the chamber, the capillary having an input, an output, and an elongate body extending between the input and the output, a cold finger having a first portion in thermal contact with a portion of the elongate body to define a capillary trapping zone, wherein the first portion of the cold finger extends to a second portion that is situated external to the chamber, a heater in thermal contact with the trapping zone of the capillary and configured to transfer heat to the trapping zone, a thermal buffer configured to buffer the heat from the heater into the cold finger and thereby retain the heat within the trapping zone of the capillary, a cooling device arranged external to the chamber and thermally connected to the second portion of the cold finger to define a primary conduction zone, wherein the cooling device is configured to generate a cooling temperature zone at the p

Abstract: For improving sensitivity, dynamic range, and specificity of GC-MS analysis there are disclosed embodiments of novel apparatuses based on improved characteristics of semi-open source with electron impact ionization, providing much higher brightness compared to known open EI sources. In an implementation, the source becomes compatible with multi-reflecting TOF analyzers for higher resolution analysis for improving detection limit. With improved schemes of spatial and temporal refocusing there are proposed various tandem TOF-TOF spectrometers with PSD, CID, and SID fragmentation and using either singly reflecting TOF or MR-TOF analyzers.

Abstract: A method of determining mass defect plots with user-defined mass scaling, filtering, and labeling in a mass spectrometer is described. An implementation of the method comprises, (i) generating a mass defect plot from the data, (ii) filtering all ions in the mass defect plot that do not have an associated isotopologue ion, (iii) selecting an unidentified ion, (iv) determining an isotope pattern of the unidentified ion, (v) identifying one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion; (vi) searching formulas containing one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion, (vii) determining a chemical formula of the identified ion, and (viii) displaying the chemical formulas for the unidentified ion on a screen.

Abstract: There is proposed a right angle time-of-flight detector comprising a conductive converter for emitting and accelerating secondary electrons, a magnetic field formed by at least one magnet for deflecting the secondary electrons at a right angle and a sealed photo-multiplier. The detector is expected to provide an extended resource and dynamic range and may be fit into tight assemblies, such as MR-TOF MS.

Abstract: An ion guide includes electrodes and an RF generator. The electrodes extend in a Z-axis that is straight or curved with a radius that is larger than a distance between the electrodes. The electrodes are made of carbon filled ceramic resistors, silicon carbide, or boron carbide to form bulk resistance with specific resistance between 1 and 1000 Ohm*cm. Conductive Z-edges are disposed on each electrode. An insulating coating is disposed on one side of each electrode and oriented away from an inner region of the ion guide surrounded by said electrodes. At least one conductive track per electrode is attached on a top side of the insulating coating. The conductive track is connected to one conductive electrode edge. The RF generator has at least two sets of secondary coils with DC supplies connected to central taps of the sets of secondary coils to provide at least four distinct signals.

Abstract: A method for processing chromatographic peaks in chromatographic systems comprising comparing a first peak with a second peak; and determining whether the first peak and second peak should be grouped together.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising ion optics that map an array of ions at an ion source array (71) to a corresponding array of positions on a position sensitive ion detector (79). The ion optics include at least one gridless ion mirror (76) for reflecting ions, which may compensate for various aberrations and allows the spectrometer to have relatively high mass and spatial resolutions.

Abstract: An ion guide includes electrodes and an RF generator. The electrodes extend in a Z-axis that is straight or curved with a radius that is larger than a distance between the electrodes. The electrodes are made of carbon filled ceramic resistors, silicon carbide, or boron carbide to form bulk resistance with specific resistance between 1 and 1000 Ohm*cm. Conductive Z-edges are disposed on each electrode. An insulating coating is disposed on one side of each electrode and oriented away from an inner region of the ion guide surrounded by said electrodes. At least one conductive track per electrode is attached on a top side of the insulating coating. The conductive track is connected to one conductive electrode edge. The RF generator has at least two sets of secondary coils with DC supplies connected to central taps of the sets of secondary coils to provide at least four distinct signals.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising: an ion deflector (305) configured to deflect ions to different positions in a first array of positions at different times; a position sensitive ion detector (187); and ion optics (180) arranged and configured to guide ions from the first array of positions to the position sensitive detector (187) so as to map ions from the first array of positions to a second array of positions on the position sensitive detector (187); wherein the ion optics includes at least one ion mirror for reflecting the ions.

Abstract: This disclosure relates a device for a chromatographic system, comprising: a chamber defining an internal portion, a capillary disposed within the chamber, the capillary having an input, an output, and an elongate body extending between the input and the output, a cold finger having a first portion in thermal contact with a portion of the elongate body to define a capillary trapping zone, wherein the first portion of the cold finger extends to a second portion that is situated external to the chamber, a heater in thermal contact with the trapping zone of the capillary and configured to transfer heat to the trapping zone, a thermal buffer configured to buffer the heat from the heater into the cold finger and thereby retain the heat within the trapping zone of the capillary, a cooling device arranged external to the chamber and thermally connected to the second portion of the cold finger to define a primary conduction zone, wherein the cooling device is configured to generate a cooling temperature zone at the p

Abstract: A combustion tube comprises a generally cylindrical body with an outwardly extending tube stop spaced from one end of the combustion tube for engaging a combustion tube mounting assembly and fixing the tube in a precise position. Near the opposite end of the tube is an enlarged opening for receiving an upper seal assembly of a combustion furnace with the outer annular shoulder of the upper end of the tube having a rolled edge to facilitate the insertion of the tube through the seal in the upper seal assembly of the furnace. The combustion tube is made of quartz glass to withstand the temperatures encountered in the furnace. The combustion tube is specifically designed and adapted to be precisely positioned in an induction furnace with an easy tube removal system for the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.

Abstract: A system and method for processing data in chromatographic systems is described. In an implementation, the system and method includes processing data generated by a chromatographic system to generate processed data, analyzing the processed data, and preparing and providing results based on the processed data.