Abstract: An ionic liquid membrane provides both vacuum sealing and ion transport for a mass spectrometer. Ion transport is necessary to take advantage of modern Electrospray Ionization (ESI) and Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI) methods. Combining vacuum sealing for the mass spectrometer with ion transport into the mass spectrometer reduces, and can eliminate, the need for multiple differential pumping stages significantly reducing size, weight and power requirements.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved spacecraft thruster, either Hall effect or ion effect, using gaseous propellant converted from solid iodine. A heated tank contains iodine crystals, which tank connects to a thrust chamber by a feed tube. A filter is mounted at the input end of the feed tube, proximate the tank, which filter is warmed by a heat control. A mass flow controller is mounted in the feed tube between the tank and the chamber and is heated by a temperature controller, such controller having a shut-off valve and means to control the flow rate of gaseous propellant to the thruster chamber.

Abstract: A high-temperature octopole/collision apparatus features coaxially heated rf emitting octopole rods coacting with a collision oven cell. The rods are maintained at a slightly higher temperature than the oven cell to prevent condensation of the sample on the poles and to ensure a well characterized operating temperature necessary for absolute cross-section measurements.