Abstract: A nano gas pump for generating gas flow, gas compression and gas rarefication which provides up to several orders of magnitude pressure difference, operates over a wide range of pressure from several millitorr to several atmospheres, and with pumping speeds from several nano liters to several liters per minute. The nano gas pump does not require any moving parts and generate gas flow using steep temperature gradients of more than 100 milli Kelvin over a mean free path of the local gas in the direction of the gas flow. Temperature gradients are created and restricted mostly to the gas doing the work, through an arrangement of PNP, NPN, PP, NN thermoelectric segments together with conductive interconnects. Contact resistance which drastically reduces the efficiency of a nanoscale thermoelectric heat pump is mitigated by overlapping thermoelectric segments and electric connections.

Abstract: A nano gas pump for generating gas flow, gas compression and gas rarefication is disclosed, which provides up to several orders of magnitude pressure difference, operates over a wide range of pressure from several millitorr to several atmospheres, and with pumping speeds from several nano liters to several liters per minute. The nano gas pump does not require any moving parts and generate gas flow using steep temperature gradients of more than 100 milli Kelvin over a mean free path of the local gas in the direction of the gas flow. Temperature gradients are created and restricted mostly to the gas doing the work, through an arrangement of PNP, NPN, PP, NN thermoelectric segments together with conductive interconnects. Contact resistance which drastically reduces the efficiency of a nanoscale thermoelectric heat pump is mitigated by overlapping thermoelectric segments and electric connections. Several exemplary embodiments are described based on linear (straight) and non-linear (turn) gas flow paths.

Abstract: A system and method for sample analysis using sub-atmospheric pressure (sub-AP) laser ionization. The sub-AP ion source includes a holder with a sample containing analyte molecules, a pulsed laser beam configured to generate ionized species from the sample, an ion extractor adjacent to the holder configured to extract analyte ions from the ionized species by an extraction electric field Es near the sample, an ion funnel structure composed of orifice electrodes located along an ion funnel pathway direction z. The ion funnel structure has an entrance and an exit, the exit being the electrode with the smallest aperture in the structure. This structure is configured for accepting the analyte ions from the ion extractor at the entrance and dragging them toward the exit using an axial electric field Ez along the direction z. The extraction electric field Es is at least partly electrically shielded from the axial electric field Ez.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for measuring a characteristic of an analyte particle. An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of an analyte particle includes a heat flux sensor configured to be maintained at a temperature. The heat flux sensor includes first and second electrical connections, and a top interconnect membrane bridging the first and second electrical connections. The apparatus further includes an emitter configured to eject an analyte particle to cause the analyte particle to collide with the top interconnect membrane of the heat flux sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for sample analysis using sub-atmospheric pressure (sub-AP) laser ionization. The sub-AP ion source includes a holder with a sample containing analyte molecules, a pulsed laser beam configured to generate ionized species from the sample, an ion extractor adjacent to the holder configured to extract analyte ions from the ionized species by an extraction electric field Es near the sample, an ion funnel structure composed of orifice electrodes located along an ion funnel pathway direction z. The ion funnel structure has an entrance and an exit, the exit being the electrode with the smallest aperture in the structure. This structure is configured for accepting the analyte ions from the ion extractor at the entrance and dragging them toward the exit using an axial electric field Ez along the direction z. The extraction electric field Es is at least partly electrically shielded from the axial electric field Ez.

Abstract: A system and method for sample analysis using sub-atmospheric pressure (sub-AP) laser ionization. The sub-AP ion source includes a holder with a sample containing analyte molecules, a pulsed laser beam configured to generate ionized species from the sample, an ion extractor adjacent to the holder configured to extract analyte ions from the ionized species by an extraction electric field Es near the sample, an ion funnel structure composed of orifice electrodes located along an ion funnel pathway direction z. The ion funnel structure has an entrance and an exit, the exit being the electrode with the smallest aperture in the structure. This structure is configured for accepting the analyte ions from the ion extractor at the entrance and dragging them toward the exit using an axial electric field Ez along the direction z. The extraction electric field Es is at least partly electrically shielded from the axial electric field Ez.

Abstract: An interchangeable ion source for a spectrometer. The ion source includes an interface which mounts the ion source relative to a gas inlet of the spectrometer, a sample holder, a laser which produces a laser beam capable of ionizing the sample at ambient pressure, and an optical system. The ion source includes an equipment chassis which supports the interface, the sample holder, the laser and the optical system as a rigid unit such that the interface, the sample holder, the laser and the optical system remain in alignment upon attachment and detachment of the ion source from the spectrometer and an enclosure which embraces an atmosphere around components of the ion source. In addition, the ion source includes a circulator which circulates at least part of the atmosphere within the enclosure.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography interface is provided having an integrated column/ESI tip assembly including a liquid chromatography separation column, an ESI tip for generating ions having at least one emitting channel, and a temperature-controlled enclosure surrounding the liquid chromatography separation column. The enclosure has at least one opening and the ESI tip is exposed outside the enclosure through the opening. The enclosure has a heating or cooling device providing a substantially homogeneous distribution of temperature throughout an internal space of the enclosure where the liquid chromatography separation column is disposed. The enclosure includes at least one gas flow mixing element to permit heat exchange by directing a flow of gas toward the ESI tip. The integrated column/ESI tip assembly resides within a thermo-stabilized volume of substantially the same temperature from an entrance of the liquid chromatography separation column to the outlet of the ESI tip.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography interface is provided having an integrated column/ESI tip assembly including a liquid chromatography separation column, an ESI tip for generating ions having at least one emitting channel, and a temperature-controlled enclosure surrounding the liquid chromatography separation column. The enclosure has at least one opening and the ESI tip is exposed outside the enclosure through the opening. The enclosure has a heating or cooling device providing a substantially homogeneous distribution of temperature throughout an internal space of the enclosure where the liquid chromatography separation column is disposed. The enclosure includes at least one gas flow mixing element to permit heat exchange by directing a flow of gas toward the ESI tip. The integrated column/ESI tip assembly resides within a thermo-stabilized volume of substantially the same temperature from an entrance of the liquid chromatography separation column to the outlet of the ESI tip.

Abstract: A system and method for mass analysis of ions. The system includes an orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass analyzer having at least two channels configured to receive respective groups of ions from respective ion sources and having a field-free section configured to mass-separate ions during flight time. The groups of ions are directed to different ones of the channels of the mass analyzer for mass analysis of the respective groups of ions, and at least a part of the field-free section is shared between the channels. The method introduces the ions into an orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass analyzer, directs groups of ions from respective ones of the two sources into different channels of the mass analyzer, and simultaneously mass-analyzes the groups of ions from the different channels.