A chemical trace detection system includes: a drift tube; a detector disposed within the drift tube; a voltage source to produce an electrical field in the drift tube; an ionizer to establish an ionization region adjacent to the electrical field; and a desorber including a sample holder to hold a sample in or adjacent to the ionization region and a sample heater to desorb particles of the sample held in the sample holder such that the desorbed particles are introduced directly into the ionization region from the sample holder to form ionized particles that are forced toward the detector by the electrical field. A regenerable dryer assembly for supplying dry drift gas to an ion mobility spectrometer is also provided that includes a regenerable dessicant material.

A chemical trace detection system includes: a drift tube; a detector disposed within the drift tube; a voltage source to produce an electrical field in the drift tube; an ionizer to establish an ionization region adjacent to the electrical field; and a desorber including a sample holder to hold a sample in or adjacent to the ionization region and a sample heater to desorb particles of the sample held in the sample holder such that the desorbed particles are introduced directly into the ionization region from the sample holder to form ionized particles that are forced toward the detector by the electrical field. A regenerable dryer assembly for supplying dry drift gas to an ion mobility spectrometer is also provided that includes a regenerable dessicant material.

A chemical trace detection system includes: a drift tube; a detector disposed within the drift tube; a voltage source to produce an electrical field in the drift tube; an ionizer to establish an ionization region adjacent to the electrical field; and a desorber including a sample holder to hold a sample in or adjacent to the ionization region and a sample heater to desorb particles of the sample held in the sample holder such that the desorbed particles are introduced directly into the ionization region from the sample holder to form ionized particles that are forced toward the detector by the electrical field. A regenerable dryer assembly for supplying dry drift gas to an ion mobility spectrometer is also provided that includes a regenerable dessicant material.

A chemical trace detection system includes: a drift tube; a detector disposed within the drift tube; a voltage source to produce an electrical field in the drift tube; an ionizer to establish an ionization region adjacent to the electrical field; and a desorber including a sample holder to hold a sample in or adjacent to the ionization region and a sample heater to desorb particles of the sample held in the sample holder such that the desorbed particles are introduced directly into the ionization region from the sample holder to form ionized particles that are forced toward the detector by the electrical field. A regenerable dryer assembly for supplying dry drift gas to an ion mobility spectrometer is also provided that includes a regenerable dessicant material.

There is provided a gas analyzer apparatus that analyzes inflowing sample gas. The gas analyzer apparatus includes a filter unit that filters the sample gas, a detector unit that detects the result of filtering, a housing that houses these elements, and a control unit that controls the respective potentials of these elements. The control unit includes a cleaning control unit that sets the respective potentials of the filter unit, the detector unit, and the housing to cleaning potentials that draws in, as plasma for cleaning purposes, process plasma from a source that supplies the sample gas or plasma generated by a plasma generation unit.

A disclosed flat type lamp for a photoionization detector includes: a first plate member having a plate shape and having a first surface on which a plurality of discharge cavities is formed; a second plate member isolating the plurality of discharge cavities from the outside by being disposed and sealed on the first surface of the first plate member; electrodes disposed on the first and second plate members and arranged to face each other; and a discharge gas filled in the plurality of discharge cavities and producing vacuum ultraviolet using electric force that is applied through the electrodes.

A disclosed flat type lamp for a photoionization detector includes: a first plate member having a plate shape and having a first surface on which a plurality of discharge cavities is formed; a second plate member isolating the plurality of discharge cavities from the outside by being disposed and sealed on the first surface of the first plate member; electrodes disposed on the first and second plate members and arranged to face each other; and a discharge gas filled in the plurality of discharge cavities and producing vacuum ultraviolet using electric force that is applied through the electrodes.

Ion mobility spectrometers and methods for determining the ion mobility of a sample gas in dry air as drift gas are disclosed. The ion mobility spectrometers comprise a drift chamber, a reaction chamber, a dielectric barrier discharge ionisation source, a control unit, and a DBDI source, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor arranged in the chamber. A light source irradiates the DBDI source with light in a wavelength range from about 240 nm to about 480 nm. The control unit is designed to set an ignition voltage of the DBDI source and to control the light source depending on a determined pressure value and a determined temperature value. The methods control and utilize the control unit for operating the ion mobility spectrometer.

A light source emits excitation light to discharge gas that flows through a dielectric tube. A ground electrode unit includes a first ground electrode and a second ground electrode arranged at a distance from each other in an axial direction of the dielectric tube. A high-voltage electrode is provided between the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode. A first distance between the first ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode is shorter than a second distance between the second ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode. A cover is provided on an outer wall of the dielectric tube at a position between the first ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode. The light source is arranged to emit excitation light such that an optical axis thereof is directed toward a position where the cover is not provided on the outer wall of the dielectric tube.

An apparatus includes multiple levels of ion transport channels, with successive levels coupled by elevator channels. Efficient three dimensional packing provides long path lengths in practical volumes for ion mobility separation with high resolving power. Disclosed elevator configurations provide efficient routing of ion transport channels across levels with low ion loss, enabling ion mobility separation over 100 levels or more. Elevator configurations include (i) opposed traveling waves meeting at an elevator entrance, (ii) external elevator with a wrap-around electrode bank, (iii) external elevator with electrode banks on parallel extension plates, or (iv) elevator operating in surfing mode, in various combinations. Manufacture is aided by printed wiring boards, with interchangeable boards. Assembly with motherboard, spacer block(s), and alignment pins provides efficient distribution of electrode excitations and accurate reproducible positioning.