ANALYTICAL PERFORMANCE OF A MICROSECOND-PULSE GLOW-DISCHARGE TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS-SPECTROMETER

In this work, the analytical performance of a microsecond-pulse glow d ischarge time of flight mass spectrometer (mu s-pulse GD-TOFMS) is eva luated. By adjusting the delay time of repeller pulse, it is able to i gnore significantly the background argon ions prior to the repelling o f analytical ion pulse due to the repelled ion beam orthogonalized to the extracted ion beam, such that mass spectra are characterized by hi gh discrimination against discharge gas species. The short-term relati ve standard deviation of 2.2% is achieved with 5-minute interval, whic h is found mainly up to the stability of discharge pressure. A fairly good resolving power of 220 has been reached for the linear mode mass spectrometer with a 1.25 m drift tube. The potential of applying mu s- pulse GD-TOFMS in isotope abundance measurement is studied, and the de tection power of this mu s-pulse GD-TOFMS is evaluated and some restri cted problems are discussed.