Abstract: A mass spectrometer may have an ion source region including an ion generator configured to generate ions from a sample, an ion detector configured to detect ions and produce corresponding ion detection signals, an electric field-free drift region disposed between the ion source region and the ion detector through which the generated ions drift axially toward the ion detector, a plurality of spaced-apart charge detection cylinders disposed in the drift region and through which the ions drifting axially through the drift region pass, and a plurality of charge amplifiers each coupled to a different one of the plurality of charge detection cylinders and each configured to produce a charge detection signal corresponding to a magnitude of charge of one or more of the generated ions passing through a respective one of the plurality of charge detection cylinders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing samples are provided. In some embodiments, a mass spectrometer may include a source configured to output one or more ions, a plurality of chambers having different pressures, a detector configured to detect the one or more ions, and a particle guide. The plurality of chambers may include at least a first chamber having a first pressure that is less than atmospheric pressure and a second chamber having a second pressure that is less than the first pressure. In some embodiments, the particle guide may include a conduit through which the one or more ions may travel an entire length of the particle guide. The conduit may be disposed within at least the first chamber and the second chamber, and vents may be disposed to define passages between the chambers and the conduit.

Abstract: An instrument for analyzing ions may include an ion source to generate ions, at least one ion processing instrument to process the generated ions by one or both of filtering the ions according to a molecular characteristic and dissociating the ions, and an electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) to receive and trap ions exiting the at least one ion processing instrument. The ELIT has first and second ion mirrors separated by a charge detection cylinder, and is configured such that trapped ions oscillate back and forth through the charge detection cylinder between the first and second ion mirrors with a duty cycle, corresponding to a ratio of time spent by the trapped ions traversing the charge detection cylinder and total time spent by the trapped ions traversing a combination of the first and second ion mirrors and the charge detection cylinder during one complete oscillation cycle, of approximately 50%.

Abstract: A system to characterize a film layer within a measurement box is disclosed. The system obtains a first mixing fraction corresponding to a first X-ray beam, the mixing fraction represents a fraction of the first X-ray beam inside a measurement box of a wafer sample, the measurement box represents a bore structure disposed over a substrate and having a film layer disposed inside the bore structure. The system obtains a contribution value for the measurement box corresponding to the first X-ray beam, the contribution value representing a species signal outside the measurement box that contributes to a same species signal inside the measurement box. The system obtains a first measurement detection signal corresponding to a measurement of the measurement box using the first X-ray beam. The system determines a measurement value of the film layer based on the first measurement detection signal, the contribution value, and the first mixing fraction.

Abstract: A personal, reusable straw and a case comprising a holder for the straw, where the case comprises one or more elements to flush, wash, clean, sanitize, and/or dry the straw in the holder. A pump may pump fluid from a fluid reservoir to lead fluid into and/or around the straw. A fan may blow air to the straw for drying the outside and/or inside of the straw. A heating element may dry the straw. A UV or other light source, along with one or more reflector elements, may provide or direct light to sanitize the outer and inner surfaces of the straw. A controller in the case may control these elements. The controller may include a wireless transceiver for communication with a mobile application to enable a user to control the elements manually and/or via a program.

Abstract: A start-up routine for a mass spectrometer is performed automatically upon switching ON the mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer comprises a plurality of functional modules connected thereto, each module operable to perform a predetermined function of the mass spectrometer in use. The start-up routine comprises detecting which functional modules are present in the set of a plurality of functional modules connected to the mass spectrometer, and performing one or more steps of the start-up routine based upon the results of the detection.

Abstract: An apparatus for sanitizing a fiberoptic endoscope includes an elongated box with an interior storage chamber and a cleaning piece connected to the exterior of the box. The cleaning piece and the box are arranged in-line with one another and are configured to receive a flexible endoscopic cable of a fiberoptic endoscope inside of them to sanitize and sterilize the cable. The flexible endoscopic cable is first inserted in the cleaning piece via a through opening of the cleaning piece. The cleaning piece includes a plurality of filtering media in its interior, each with a respective through hole. The flexible endoscopic cable is disinfected as it is moved through the filtering medium through holes. Having passed through the filtering media, the flexible endoscopic cable travels to the interior storage chamber of the box, where it is irradiated by an ultraviolet light source for sterilizing the flexible endoscopic cable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the high resolution imaging of samples using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and to the imaging of biological samples by imaging mass cytometry (IMC™) in which labelling atoms are detected by IMS. LA-ICP-MS (a form of IMS in which the sample is ablated by a laser, the ablated material is then ionised in an inductively coupled plasma before the ions are detected by mass spectrometry) has been used for analysis of various substances, such as mineral analysis of geological samples, analysis of archaeological samples, and imaging of biological substances. However, traditional LA-ICP-MS systems and methods may not provide high resolution. Described herein are methods and systems for high resolution IMS and IMC.

Abstract: A machine, article, process of using, process of making, products produced thereby and necessary intermediates. Illustratively, there can be a process that includes: ionizing at least some injected gas to form ions; confining, without using magnetic fields, at least some of said ions to produce confined ions; accumulating at least some of said confined ions to produce accumulated ions; cooling at least some of said accumulated ions to produce cooled ions; compressing, without using magnetic fields, at least some of said accumulated ions to produce compressed ions; accelerating at least some of said compressed ions to produce accelerated ions; ejecting at least some of said accelerated ions; and measuring at least one property of said ejected ions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a surface has a laser-beam machined area including an array of micro-sized conical pillars that are arranged in orthogonal rows and columns across the surface and that extend upward, the conical pillars defining deep troughs between them that are configured to absorb electrons, electromagnetic radiation, or both, the conical pillars tapering from relatively wide bases to pointed tips, the conical pillars comprising outer surfaces that are covered with a plurality of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method includes: providing position data for a plurality of areas on the sample which are to be inspected; providing a first raster arrangement of the plurality of individual particle beams, with a single field of view on the sample assigned to each individual particle beam; defining the position of a nominal scanning area in each single field of view in relation to the first raster arrangement, with the dimensions of the nominal scanning area smaller than the complete single field of view; determining an individual position deviation between a nominal scanning area and the area to be inspected for the at least one individual particle beam; changing the first raster arrangement based on the determined individual position deviation to produce a second raster arrangement of the plurality of individual particle beams; and area-wise scanning the sample using the plurality of individual particle beams in the second raster arrangement.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for imaging and ablating a sample. An imaging/ablating device (110) includes an optical assembly (112), a sample stage (114), and a receiver (116). The optical assembly (112) is disposed in an inverted position below the sample stage (114) and the receiver (116) is positioned above the sample stage (112). The optical assembly enables imaging of a sample disposed on the sample stage (114). The optical assembly (112) also enables ablation of a region of interest within the sample. The laser light propagated from the optical assembly during ablation propagates substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the ablation plume (20) toward the receiver (116).

Abstract: A radiotherapy treatment plan for grid therapy in which a patient is radiated from a source of radiation with a set of spatially fractionated beams of charged particles such as protons, including varying the direction of each beam in the set of beams. Generating the plan comprises the steps of determining a first path through the patient to a first Bragg peak position and determining a second path through the patient, at least a part of the second path being directed at an angle from the first path to a first deflected Bragg peak position. The beam directions may be varied by means of magnetic fields or by varying the relative angle between the gantry and the patient.

Abstract: An exposure tool is configured to remove contaminants and/or prevent contamination of mirrors and/or other optical components included in the exposure tool. In some implementations, the exposure tool is configured to flush and/or otherwise remove contaminants from an illuminator, a projection optics box, and/or one or more other subsystems of the exposure tool using a heated gas such as ozone (O3) or extra clean dry air (XCDA), among other examples. In some implementations, the exposure tool is configured to provide a gas curtain (or gas wall) that includes hydrogen (H2) or another type of gas to reduce the likelihood of contaminants reaching the mirrors included in the exposure tool. In this way, the mirrors and one or more other components of the exposure tool are cleaned and maintained in a clean environment in which radiation absorbing contaminants are controlled to increase the performance of the exposure tool.

Abstract: An ion analyzer including: a base member fixed to a ion outflow port and having a cylindrical concave part; a cylindrical first conductive member accommodated in the concave part; a first ion flow controller fixed to an exposed end of the first conductive member; a cylindrical insulating member inserted into the first conductive member; a rod-shaped second conductive member inserted into the insulating member; a second ion flow controller being fixed to an exposed end of the second conductive member; a first power feeding unit that, when accommodated in the concave part, comes into contact with the first conductive member; and a second power feeding unit that, when accommodated in the concave part, comes into contact with the second conductive member when the first conductive member accommodates the second conductive member and the insulating member.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for improving compound detection and characterization. Methods for characterizing a sample are disclosed. The methods can include providing a sample to a liquid chromatography system capable of sample separation to generate sample components; analyzing sample components by multiplexed targeted selected ion monitoring (SIM) to generate an inclusion list; and performing iterative mass spectral data-dependent acquisition (DDA) from the inclusion list, to identify individual sample components thereby characterizing the sample. In one example, multiplexed targeted SIMs and iterative MS2 DDA acquisition is used to increase robust compound identification for cell culture medium analysis.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a decomposing and collection apparatus for use with a fluid. The apparatus includes an assembly for generating ions via applying atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma to the fluid and separating the generated ions. The assembly includes multiple plasma generator and separator units that are vertically stacked relative to each other. Each of the multiple plasma generator and separator units includes a plasma generator for generating the generating atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma, and a separator disposed to receive the positively and negatively ions ejected from the plasma generator and configured to redirect the received positively charged ions in one direction and the received negatively charged ions are redirected to another direction different from the one direction. The apparatus also includes a collector configured to collect at least one of the redirected positively charged ions and the negatively charged ions.

Abstract: Provided is a charged particle beam system capable of preventing the data acquisition time from increasing. A control method for the system is also provided. The charged particle beam system includes: a beam blanker for blanking a charged particle beam; a sample stage on which a sample is tiltably held and thus can assume a tilt angle; a blanking controller for controlling the blanking of the charged particle beam and causing a pulsed beam having a duty ratio to be directed at the sample; and a tilt controller for controlling the tilt angle of the sample. The blanking controller sets the duty ratio of the pulsed beam based on the tilt angle of the sample.

Abstract: An ion analysis apparatus includes an ionization source that generates a beam of ions and a trapping device that axially transfers the ions downstream. A first quadrupole mass filter receives the ions from the trapping device and transfers at least a first subset of the received ions. A segmented linear quadrupole ion trap performs a first processing step on the at least first subset of ions and transfers the processed ions. A second quadrupole mass filter receives the processed ions transferred from the segmented linear quadrupole ion trap and transfers at least a second subset of the processed ions. A collision cell receives and performs a second processing step on the at least second subset of processed ions. A mass analyzer performs mass analysis of the ions processed by the collision cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for achieving levitation via a photophoretic effect are provided. In certain embodiments, a structure of ultralight materials is provided, for example a BoPET film and carbon nanotubes and has a top and bottom side, made of two separate materials. When the bottom side is illuminated by light at certain intensity, it can result in an upward lift force being applied to the entire structure, causing the structure to levitate.