Abstract: The present invention relates generally to grids for gating a stream of charged particles and methods for manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a Bradbury-Nielson gate having transmission line grid elements. In one embodiment is a feed structure for a gating grid where a drive source is coupled to a feeding transmission line with the same geometry as the chopper and continues with the same geometry to a termination transmission line. Also included is a method for fabricating a gate for charged particles which includes micromachining at least two gate elements from at least one wafer, wherein each gate element includes at least one grid element; metalizing the grid elements; and assembling the gate elements such that the grid elements of the gate elements are interleaved, thereby forming a Bradbury Nielson gate.

Abstract: A spectroscopy instrument that uses spectra produced from random binary sequence modulated data. Statistical estimation techniques are used to achieve resolution enhancement, while properly accounting for the Poisson noise distribution and other artifacts introduced by a modulator or “chopper” or other system components. Indeed, a resolution similar to that of modem spectrometers can be achieved with a dramatic performance advantage over conventional, serial detection analyzers. Both static and dynamic behaviors are theoretically or measured experimentally accounted for in the model as determined. In one embodiment, the finite penetration of the field beyond the plane of the chopper leads to non-ideal chopper response, which is characterized in terms of an “energy corruption” effect and a lead or lag in the time at which the beam responds to the chopper potential.

Abstract: A grid structure and method for manufacturing the same. The grid is used for gating a stream of charged particles in certain types of particle measurement instruments, such as ion mobility spectrometers and the like. The methods include various microfabrication techniques for etching and/or depositing grid structure materials on a silicon substrate.

Abstract: A technique for providing a grid for a gate such as utilized in gating a stream of ions or other particles in a spectrometer instrument. The grid of wires may, for example, be a so-called Bradbury-Nielson Gate that consists of a set of two electrically isolated sets of equally spaced wires that lie substantially in the same plane and alternate in potential. The method utilized to provide is to first fabricate a frame of an insulating substrate having a hole and depositing metal film patterns such that conductive portions are formed on either side of the hole. Conductive portions on either side form a series of terminating pads on the portion of the substrate closest to the hole and a bus bar. Grid wires are then formed by stretching a section of wire with desired constant tension across the hole and bonding the ends of the wire to a respective one of the pads on one side and bus bar on the other side. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive way to fabricate such modulating devices.

Abstract: A spectroscopy instrument that uses spectra produced from random binary sequence modulated data. Statistical estimation techniques are used to achieve resolution enhancement, while properly accounting for the Poisson noise distribution and other artifacts introduced by a modulator or “chopper” or other system components. Indeed, a resolution similar to that of modern spectrometers can be achieved with a dramatic performance advantage over conventional, serial detection analyzers. Both static and dynamic behaviors are theoretically or measured experimentally accounted for in the model as determined. In one embodiment, the finite penetration of the field beyond the plane of the chopper leads to non-ideal chopper response, which is characterized in terms of an “energy corruption” effect and a lead or lag in the time at which the beam responds to the chopper potential.