Abstract: The disclosure relates to a particle accelerator which comprises two accelerating tubes as well as a charge-exchange channel, whereby the vacuum pump for evacuating from said charge-exchange channel gas particles injected therein is not connected to the high-voltage side but, via a vacuum tube, to the low-voltage side of the particle accelerator. This means a substantial simplification of the maintenance of the vacuum pump. In addition to that a motor and a generator are no longer required. By providing the vacuum pump with equipotential plates, which comprise pump holes arranged eccentrically round the center of the vacuum tube, the gas particles are in this configuration are accelerated while retaining the high breakdown strength.

Abstract: A particle accelerator includes one or more accelerating tubes (1) which accelerating tube (1) includes spatially separated electrodes (2), each electrode (2) surrounded by a corona ring (4). The electrode (2) includes at least one spark gap (6) having a connection for connecting one side of a resistor (7).

Abstract: Samples are directed into a liquid or gas chromatograph, and the output from the liquid or gas chromatograph is directed into the ion source of an accelerator mass spectrometry system so as to provide an ultra-sensitive identifier of molecules in the samples.