초록 ▼

A hot surface detector for heavy ions following their separation on the basis of charge-to-mass ratio. Upon striking the hot surface, the heavy ions decompose and give up their lighter constituent and/or impurity atoms and molecules to the surface. Those constituent and/or impurity atoms and molecul

A hot surface detector for heavy ions following their separation on the basis of charge-to-mass ratio. Upon striking the hot surface, the heavy ions decompose and give up their lighter constituent and/or impurity atoms and molecules to the surface. Those constituent and/or impurity atoms and molecules with ionization potentials or electron affinities comparable to the work function of the hot surface become surface ionized and are emitted from the surface as a burst of either positive or negative ions which are then detected by conventional means, including detection at an electrode, by an electron multiplier or by a mass spectrometric detector for light ions. Where negative ions are to be detected, a magnetic field is applied to prevent electrons from the hot surface from reaching the detector.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for detecting macromolecular ions emerging from the exit end of a device which separates said macromolecular ions on the basis of their charge-to-mass ratios, said method comprising the impinging of said emerging macromolecular ions having a uniform charge-to-mass ratio upon a hot surface w

A method for detecting macromolecular ions emerging from the exit end of a device which separates said macromolecular ions on the basis of their charge-to-mass ratios, said method comprising the impinging of said emerging macromolecular ions having a uniform charge-to-mass ratio upon a hot surface whereupon said macromolecular ions decompose at the high temperature of the heated surface into fragments, at least some of said fragments being surface ionizable by said hot surface evolving from said hot surface as a burst of ions and discerning the burst of ions so produced by detection of its electrical charge.