218 results about "Photoionization" patented technology

Improvements have been made for collection and focusing of ions generated from atmospheric pressure sources such as electrospray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, inductively coupled plasma, discharge, photoionization and atmospheric pressure matrix assisted laser desorption ionization. A high transmission electro-optical surface is placed between the source regions and the focusing regions to optimize the field geometries and strengths in each respective region. Compression ratios of greater than 5000 are capable of transferring virtually all ions from large volume dispersive ion regions into ion beam cross-sections of less than 1 mm. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when coupled to atmospheric pressure ionization sources.

An atmospheric pressure ion source, e.g. for a mass spectrometer, that produces ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). It includes a vaporizer, a photon source for photoionizing vapor molecules upon exit from the vaporizer, a passageway for transporting ions to, for example, a mass spectrometer system, and a means for directing the ions into the passageway. The center axis of the vaporizer and the center axis of the passageway form an angle that may be about 90 degrees. Included in the invention is a method for creating ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization along an axis and directing them into a passageway oriented at an angle to that axis.

Improvements have been made for collecting, focusing, and directing of ions and / or charged particles generated at atmospheric or near atmospheric pressure sources, such as but not limited to, electrospray; atmospheric pressure discharge ionization, chemical ionization, photoionization, and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization; and inductively coupled plasma ionization. A multiple-aperture laminated structure is place at the interface of two pressure regions. Electric fields geometries and strengths across the laminated structure and diameters of the apertures; all of which act to optimize the transfer of the ions from the higher pressure region into the lower pressure region while reducing the gas-load on the lower pressure region. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when coupled to atmospheric, near atmospheric, or higher pressure ionization sources by reducing the gas-load on the vacuum system.

Methods, systems and kits for the simultaneous or sequential analysis of a multitude of steroid hormones by mass spectrometry are disclosed. The methods require minimal sample size and minimal preparation time. The methods include ionizing the hormones and analyzing the hormones by mass spectrometry. In addition, methods, systems and kits for the simultaneous or sequential analysis of steroid hormones are disclosed including ionization of the steroid hormones by photoionization.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer. The multimode ionization source of the present invention provides one or more atmospheric pressure ionization sources (e.g., electrospray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and / or atmospheric pressure photoionization) for ionizing natural product and organic molecules. A method of producing ions using the multimode ionization source is also disclosed. The apparatus and method provide the advantages of the combined ion sources without the inherent disadvantages of the individual sources. In an embodiment, the multimode ionization source includes an infrared emitter enclosed in an inner chamber for drying a charged aerosol. ESI / APCI multimode sources may include a corona needle shield and / or an auxiliary electrode.

A multiple function atmospheric pressure ion source interfaced to a mass spectrometer comprises multiple liquid inlet probes configured such that the sprays from two or more probes intersect in a mixing region. Gas phase sample ions or neutral species generated in the spray of one probe can react with reagent gas ions generated from one or more other probes by such ionization methods as Electrospray, photoionization, corona discharge and glow discharge ionization. Reagent ions may be optimally selected to promote such processes as Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization of neutral sample molecules, or charge reduction or electron transfer dissociation of multiply charged sample ions. Selected neutral reagent species can also be introduced into the mixing region to promote charge reduction of multiply charged sample ions through ion-neutral reactions. Different operating modes can be performed alternately or simultaneously, and can be rapidly turned on and off under manual or software control.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer. The multimode ionization source of the present invention provides one or more atmospheric pressure ionization sources (e.g., electrospray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and / or atmospheric pressure photoionization) for ionizing molecules. A method of producing ions using the multimode ionization source is also disclosed. The apparatus and method provide the advantages of the combined ion sources without the inherent disadvantages of the individual sources. In an embodiment, the multimode ionization source includes an infrared emitter enclosed in an inner chamber for drying a charged aerosol. ESI / APCI multimode sources may include a corona needle shield and / or an auxiliary electrode.

The invention relates to a novel electro-spray sampling vacuum ultraviolet single-photon ionization mass spectrometry analysis device which solves the analysis problems of a plurality of non-polarity composition complex systems. The device of the invention comprises a photoionization chamber and a differential chamber which are adjacent to each other; the adjacent side walls of the photoionization chamber and the differential chamber are communicated with a perforated ladle which is convex towards the differential chamber; the outlet of the perforated ladle is corresponding to the middle of the lead-out electrode and acceleration electrode of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer; the inlet of the perforated ladle is corresponding to an inverted horn-shaped nozzle on the side wall of the differential chamber; the inlet of the perforated ladle is in inverted horn shape; an electro-spray needle corresponding to the nozzle is arranged outside the differential chamber; the other end of the electro-spray needle is connected with an injection pump. The device of the invention combines the electro-spray sampling and vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry technique, directly sprays the sample to be measured out of the electro-spray needle during the testing and analysis process, and requires no complex pre-processing and separation of the sample; as the electro-spraying has no restrictions on the thermal stability and volatility of the sample, the device of the invention can be widely applied to the analysis and detection of simple organic matters and complex organic mixtures and can monitor certain organic reaction processes in real time.

An ion source able to ionize both liquid and gaseous effluents from interfaced liquid or gaseous separation techniques. The liquid effluents are ionized by electrospray ionization, photoionization or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and the gaseous effluents from sources such as a gas chromatograph are ionized by a corona or Townsend electrical discharge or photoionization. The source has the ability to ionize compounds from both liquid and gaseous sources, which facilitates ionization of volatile compounds separated by gas chromatography, low volatility compounds separated by liquid chromatography, as well as highly non-volatile compounds infused by electrospray or separated by liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis.

A laser based ignition system for stationary natural gas engines, a distributor system for use with high-powered lasers, and a method of determining a successful ignition event in a laser-based ignition system are provided. The laser based ignition (LBI) system for stationary natural gas engines includes a high power pulsed laser providing a pulsed emission output coupled to a plurality of laser plugs. A respective one of the plurality of laser plugs is provided in an engine cylinder. The laser plug focuses the coherent emission from the pulsed laser to a tiny volume or focal spot and a high electric field gradient at the focal spot leads to photoionization of the combustible mixture resulting in ignition.

The present invention relates to an internal photoionization ion trap quality analysis device and its method. Said device includes ion source for making ionization treatment of gas-phase sample and ion trap for making separation treatment of ion, in which the ion source is UV light source, and is placed outside of ion trap to make the UV light be irradiated into the ion trap interior; the gas-phase sample to be tested can be introduced into ion trap interior; the UV light can be used for irradiating gas-phase sample to be tested so as to implement ionization of the gas-phase sample to be test.

A new technique and Method of Direct Coulomb Explosion in Laser Ablation of Semiconductor Structures in semiconductor materials is disclosed. The Method of Direct Coulomb Explosion in Laser Ablation of Semiconductor Structures provides activation of the “Coulomb explosion” mechanism in a manner which does not invoke or require the conventional avalanche photoionization mechanism, but rather utilizes direct interband absorption to generate the Coulomb explosion threshold charge densities. This approach minimizes the laser intensity necessary for material removal and provides optimal machining quality. The technique generally comprises use of a femtosecond pulsed laser to rapidly evacuate electrons from a near surface region of a semiconductor or dielectric structure, and wherein the wavelength of the laser beam is chosen such that interband optical absorption dominates the carrier production throughout the laser pulse. The further application of a strong electric field to the semiconductor or dielectric structure provides enhancement of the absorption coefficient through a field induced redshift of the optical absorption. The use of this electric field controlled optical absorption is available in all semiconductor materials and allows precise control of the ablation rate. When used in conjunction with nanoscale semiconductor or dielectric structures, the application of a strong electric field provides for laser ablation on sub-micron lateral scales.

An ion source able to ionize both liquid and gaseous vapors from interfaced liquid separation techniques and a solids / liquid atmospheric pressure (AP) probe. The liquid effluents are ionized by electrospray ionization, photoionization or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and the vapors released from a probe device placed in a heated gas stream in the AP source are ionized by a corona or Townsend electrical discharge or photoionization. The source has the ability to ionize compounds from both liquid and solid sources, which facilitates ionization of volatile and semivolatile compounds by applying heat from a gas stream as well as highly non-volatile compounds infused by electrospray or separated by liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis.