Abstract
A new non-magnetic path separation type mass spectrometer is proposed. Ions injected into the mass separating region are exposed to an electric field which is perpendicular to the direction of the drift motion of the ions. The electric field consists of a pulsed r-f field which appears at each half cycle of the rectangular wave. The field has approximately a parabolic potential distriaution. The period of oscillation of the ions in the field depends on their mass. The drifting and the oscillating motions enable selected ions to reach the ion collector electrode.
Since the r-f frequency relevant to the mass of ions in question is relatively low, frequency sweeping mode of operation may be effective. It yields desirable characteristics of constant transmissivity for selected ions in the mass separation region independent of the ion mass. The operational principle of the mass spetrometer is simple and obvious, which facilitates construction of the electrode. The resolving power was anticipated numerically, being proved to exceed 100 without much difficulty.
