Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein the pusher electrode of a Time of Flight mass analyser is operated in conjunction with an ion gate to ensure that low mass background or matrix ions are not injected into the drift region of the mass analyser.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer having an elongated rod set, and a method of operating same. The rod set has an entrance end, an exit end and a longitudinal axis. Ions are admitted into the entrance end of the rod set. At least some of the ions are trapped in the rod set by producing a barrier field at an exit member adjacent to the exit end of the rod set and by producing an RF field between the rods of the rod set adjacent at least the exit end of the rod set. The RF and barrier fields interact in an extraction region adjacent to the exit end of the rod set to produce a fringing field. Ions in the extraction region are energized to mass selectively eject at least some ions of a selected mass to charge ratio axially from the rod set past the barrier field. The RF field is a two-dimensional substantially quadrupole field having a quadrupole harmonic with amplitude A2, an octopole harmonic with amplitude A4, and a hexadecapole harmonic with amplitude A8. A8 is less than A4, and A4 is greater than 0.1% of A2.

Abstract: A detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is described that extends the dynamic range of spectrometers that use counting techniques while avoiding the problems of crosstalk. It is well known that a multiple anode detector capable of detecting different fractions of the incoming particles may be used to increase the dynamic range of a TOFMS system. However, crosstalk between the anodes limits the amount by which the dynamic range may be increased. The present invention overcomes limitations imposed by crosstalk by using either a secondary amplification stage or by using different primary amplification stages.

Abstract: There are disclosed a nonlinear optical crystal 1 which can generate a THz wave by a parametric effect; a pump light incidence apparatus 12 for allowing a pump light 2 to be incident upon the nonlinear optical crystal; and a seed light injection apparatus 14 for injecting a seed light 5 having a variable frequency in a generation direction of an idler light 3 generated by the pump light. The seed light injection apparatus 14 comprises angle dispersion compensation means 16 set so that an incidence angle ?IN of the seed light upon the nonlinear optical crystal 1 substantially equals to a desired phase matching condition regardless of a wavelength.

Abstract: A hollow exciting current pathway in the form of a conductor is arranged outside of an ion deflection casing with a curved contour and having an inlet and an outlet. The conductor is composed of a widthwise spiral formation of conductors running through the inlet and outlet and along the curved contour with a result that a magnetic field which is uniform widthwise is formed in the ion deflection casing. An ion beam is introduced through between the conductors at the inlet into the hollow exciting current pathway. By the action of the magnetic field through the hollow exciting current pathway, the ion beam is bent depending upon mass of ions. The ion beam with desired mass is taken out through between the conductors at the outlet with a result that an ion beam greater in size can be ion mass separated uniformly.

Abstract: An optical particle corrector with a straight optical axis for eliminating color and aperture aberrations in optical particle lenses includes multipole elements in the form of electric and/or magnetic quadrupole and octupole elements. There are at least twelve quadrupole elements and ten octupole elements, in which three quadrupole elements and two octupole elements are assembled into a group. These groups are arranged successively along the straight optical axis, in which a first symmetrical plane is defined between the first and second groups, a second symmetrical plane is defined between the second and third groups and a third symmetrical plane is defined between the third and fourth groups. The multipole elements from one group to another correspond to each other in pairs, in which the multipole elements of the corresponding following group are positioned in reverse order along the straight optical axis in comparison with the corresponding multipole elements of the preceding group.

Abstract: An optical input device for measuring the movement of a finger (15) ia accommodated in a housing provided with a transparent window (12) for transmitting a measurement beam (13) from a diode laser (3) to the finger and radiation reflected by the finger to a detector (4). This feature prevents that grease and dust disturb and block the measuring beam.

Abstract: A method for cooling atoms, having a plurality of magnetic sublevels, involves a laser. Specifically, multiple polarized coherent light sources of a predetermined wavelength are sequentially emitted to atoms to move the electrons of the atoms to a lower magnetic sublevels, hence cooling the atoms. The sequentially emitted laser light can be applied at predetermined time intervals, whereby it becomes possible to laser-cool a variety of atoms including semiconductor atoms, such as silicon and germanium.

Abstract: A glow discharge source for the elemental analysis of solid samples of material by means of optical glow discharge spectroscopy (GD-OES) or glow discharge mass spectroscopy (GD-MS) or secondary neutral particle mass spectroscopy (SNMS), a glow discharge being produced by means of a connected electrical voltage source on the sample of material between the latter and an anode and evaluated spectrometrically, wherein a current transformer component for detecting the current flowing between the glow discharge and the voltage source is disposed at or in the anode or connected electrically with the anode.

Abstract: A method for detecting a substance or substances in a sample or in a matrix of samples combining detection methods that are, on the one hand, based on direct detection with integrated optical (bio)chemo-sensitive waveguide grating structures and, on the other hand, based on a mass-spectrometric detection effected by way of a desorption process. The method permits an increase in detection security and/or detection sensitivity.

Abstract: A system for supporting and adjusting the position of an object in a vacuum includes inner and outer support rings that are connected by flexible mounts that are compliant along one axis and stiff along other axes, and drivers extending through the wall of the vacuum chamber that move the supports independently along their respective axes. At least the inner support is clamped after adjustment by a clamp that exerts a strong clamping pressure while exerting transverse force only less than a threshold selected to avoid motion after adjustment.

Abstract: Discloses a photo machining apparatus and a photo-fabrication method to perform two-dimensional or three-dimensional fabrication of an inorganic transparent material with a precision of 10 nm. Soft X-ray (2) emitted from a soft X-ray source (1) is focally applied by an optical system 3 comprising a combination of a concave mirror and convex mirrors onto an inorganic transparent material (4) in a predetermined pattern to generate new absorption in a irradiated region of the inorganic transparent material, which is then irradiated with a machining laser beam (5) so that a visible or ultraviolet machining laser beam (5) having a high energy density is absorbed exclusively in the part of the patterned inorganic transparent material (4) to fabricate the inorganic transparent material (4).

Abstract: It becomes possible to simultaneously atomize and ionize atoms constituting a polymer with the use of a single laser, thereby highly simplifying the constitution of a system. A method of analyzing a polymer which comprises abrading the polymer to be analyzed by irradiating with laser beams to thereby atomize the polymer into the constituting elements thereof, then ionizing the elements and analyzing the constituting elements thus ionized. The laser beams with which the polymer to be analyzed is irradiated for the abrasion are ultrashort pulse laser beams. By irradiating the polymer with the ultrashort pulse laser beams to thereby abrade, the polymer can be atomized and ionized at the same time. Then the thus ionized constituting elements are analyzed.

Abstract: A carousel and first and second members have common axes in a first direction. The carousel, preferably cylindrical, has a ring-shaped configuration defined by inner and outer diameters. The first member has an outer diameter preferably contiguous to the carousel inner diameter. The second member has an inner diameter preferably contiguous to the carousel outer diameter. The carousel is divided into compartments by vanes. The carousel rotates at a substantially constant speed past radiation directed by an accelerator in the first direction. When a fault occurs in the system operation, (1) the carousel and radiation stop and (2) the carousel reverses in direction. When the fault is resolved, the carousel moves in the forward direction at the substantially constant speed and the radiation resumes at the position where the article was being irradiated at the time that the fault occurred.

Abstract: An electron beam drawing mask includes a pattern supporting film for transmitting an electron beam therethrough; an electron beam scattering body pattern formed over the pattern supporting film; and a support member for supporting the pattern supporting film and the electron beam scattering body pattern. The pattern supporting film has a film thickness of 0.005 to 0.2 micron, a film material density of 1.0 to 5.0 g/cm3 and an elastic modulus of 0.8×1011 Pa or higher. The electron beam scattering body pattern has a film thickness of 0.2 to 2 micron, a film material density of 1.0 to 5.0 g/cm3, and an elastic modulus of 0.8×1011 Pa or higher.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating, extracting and selecting ions used in a heavy ion cancer therapy facility. The apparatus comprises an independent first (ECRIS 1) and an independent second electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS 2) for generating heavy and light ions, respectively. Further is enclosed downstream of spectrometer magnet (SP1, SP2) for selecting heavy ion species of one isotopic configuration positioned downstream of each ion source (ECRIS 1, ECRIS 2): a magnetic quadrupole triplet (QT1, QT2) positioned downstream of each spectrometer magnet (SP1, SP2); a switching magnet (SM) for switching between high-LET ion species and low-LET ion species of said two independent first and second ion source.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to an article irradiation facility that comprises, within a cell, an accelerator for generating a radiation beam and a beam pass conveyor. In order to better control the dose delivered to articles treated at the facility, the current of the radiation beam is slaved to the speed of the beam pass conveyor. The actual (versus requested) speed of the beam pass conveyor is continuously monitored using a variable frequency drive. The drive infers the speed of the beam pass conveyor from changes in the induction, resistance, flux current and/or inertia off the motor for the beam pass conveyor. The drive is positioned outside the cell and eliminates the need for speed sensors within the cell that are susceptible to radiation damage.

Abstract: A method of electromagnetic separation of palladium isotopes places working substance of metal palladium in a gas-discharge chamber crucible with a source of ions. The working substance is heated to vapors, the vapors of the working substance ionized in the gas-discharge chamber under the action of electron emission from a hot cathode, and ionic beams formed by electrodes of an ion-optical system. The ionic beams separate isotopes in a magnetic field, entrapping the ions in receiving boxes, the temperature of the gas-discharge chamber being maintained within 1500-1700° C. The method is effectively used for separation of isotopes Pd-102, Pd-104, Pd-105, Pd-106, Pd-108 b Pd-110 with a high enrichment degree.

Abstract: Microfluidic nozzle array devices are provided with the body of each device having at least one nozzle extending outwardly from one surface of the body. Each nozzle includes a tip opening having a diameter of equal to or less than about 100 &mgr;m, preferably 50 &mgr;m, and more preferably 20 &mgr;m and an outer diameter of nozzle is equal to or less than about 150 &mgr;m, preferably 100 &mgr;m, and more preferably 50 &mgr;m. The microfluidic nozzle array devices are fabricated using an injection molding process and find particular utility in a wide range of applications, including but not limited to nanospray/electrospray applications, mass spectrometer applications, optical spectrometry applications, spotting applications (i.e., DNA or protein array), etc.

Abstract: A high-pressure hollow cathode ionizer is combined with an ion-mobility-spectrometer (IMS) for the detection of trace amounts of organic compounds in gas. The ionizer uses H30+, ions which do not react with air to ionize the organic compounds and the organic compounds are soft ionized. The ionized organic compounds are detected in the IMS at levels of parts per billion and identified using calibrated reference tables. Applications include but are not limited to the fields of: (1) medicine as a breath analyzer for detection of lung cancer, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, (2) law enforcement in drug interdiction and explosives detection, (3) food monitoring and control, (4) environmental monitoring and (5) space applications.