Abstract: An one pump is formed with its housing made of titanium so that the housing can form the cathode of the ion pump. Cylindrical anodes may be formed inside the housing. Spikes or posts may be formed on the walls of the housing and may extend into the inside of the anodes.

Abstract: An electronic ion detection system which may detect low-energy charge particles such as ions from, for example, a mass spectrometer system. The capacitive sensors are located with two plates which are separated by an insulator. The ions which impinge on one of the plates cause charge to be created. That charge may be amplified and then handled by a charge mode amplifier such as a CCD sensor. That CCD sensor may operate using fill and spill operations.

Abstract: An electronic ion detection system which may detect low-energy charge particles such as ions from, for example, a mass spectrometer system. The capacitive sensors are located with two plates which are separated by an insulator. The ions which impinge on one of the plates cause charge to be created. That charge may be amplified and then handled by a charge mode amplifier such as a CCD sensor. That CCD sensor may operate using fill and spill operations.

Abstract: Temperature compensation for a magnetic sector used in mass spectrometry. A high temperature dependant magnetic sector is used. This magnetic sector is compensated by a magnetic shunt that has opposite temperature characteristics to those of the magnet.

Abstract: An electrostatic sector device for a mass spectrometer is formed from a single piece of machinable ceramic. The machined ceramic is coated with a nickel coating, and a notch is etched in the nickel coating to form two separated portions. The sector can be covered by a cover formed from a separate piece of machined ceramic.

Abstract: Improvements to reduce the size of a GCMS while improving its performance. A first improvement adjusts the magnet for radii of travel. Another feature removes a portion of the magnet to compensate for the fringe field. Yet another improvement shaves portions off of the yoke near where they meet the pole pieces.

Abstract: Improvements for viewing particles, e.g. electrons or ions, in mass spectrometer systems. A special kind of system allows a phosphor to be formed which does not include any kind of conductive layer thereon. The particles impinge directly on the phosphor, and produce light that shines through an ITO layer. This special system enables lower voltage, and smaller systems. Another improvement enables direct viewing of ions from the system.

Abstract: Organic and inorganic contaminants of an environmental sample are analyzed by the same GC-MS instrument by adding an oxidizing agent to the sample to oxidize metal or metal compounds to form metal ions. The metal ions are converted to chelate complexes and the chelate complexes are extracted into a supercritical fluid such as CO.sub.2. The metal chelate extract after flowing through a restrictor tube is directly injected into the ionization chamber of a mass spectrometer, preferably containing a refractory metal filament such as rhenium to fragment the complex to release metal ions which are detected. This provides a fast, economical method for the analysis of metal contaminants in a sample and can be automated. An organic extract of the sample in conventional or supercritical fluid solvents can be detected in the same mass spectrometer, preferably after separation in a supercritical fluid chromatograph.

Abstract: A magnetic sector for a non-scanning mass spectrometer includes a high permeability yoke with opposing faces to which are attached high energy product magnets and shaped pole pieces separated by a gap so that a high magnetic flux exists in the gap. The high magnetic flux in the gap enables very small surface areas of the pole pices faces forming the gap so that the overall magetic sector volume and weight are reduced.

Abstract: A system is provided for analyzing the particles in aerosols, as in making air pollution studies, which enables the making of rapid chemical analyses of particles. The system includes an apparatus for producing a controlled stream of individual particles to be analyzed from an environment, and an apparatus for vaporizing and ionizing the particles while they move in free flight, for analysis by a mass spectrometer. The apparatus for producing a stream of particles includes a capillary tube through which the air with suspended particles moves, a skimmer device having a small opening spaced from an end of the capillary tube to receive particles passing through the tube, and a vacuum pump for pumping air out of the space between the tube and skimmer. The vacuum pump serves to remove much of the gas from around the particles, while also creating an inflow of air and particles through the capillary tube.