The present invention relates to an ion generation composite target for an ion irradiation technology including: a substrate having a through hole formed thereon; and a graphene thin film configured on the substrate, across the through hole, having a thickness in a range between 1 nm to 3 nm, and ionized to release a proton or a carbon ion.

Systems for directing a pulsed beam of charged particles include an ion source configured to produce a pulsed ion beam that includes at least one ion bunch. Such systems include an electromagnet for producing an electromagnetic field through which the pulsed ion beam travels, and an automated switch that selectively activates the electromagnet. A source of radiation triggers the automated switch, and at least one processor is configured to activate the electromagnet as the ion bunch traverses the electromagnetic field. Such systems may be useful, for example, for filtering a pulsed ion beam to select ions falling within a desired energy range and/or for providing pulsed ion radiation at desired times.

Systems for directing a pulsed beam of charged particles include an ion source configured to produce a pulsed ion beam that includes at least one ion bunch. Such systems include an electromagnet for producing an electromagnetic field through which the pulsed ion beam travels, and an automated switch that selectively activates the electromagnet. A source of radiation triggers the automated switch, and at least one processor is configured to activate the electromagnet as the ion bunch traverses the electromagnetic field. Such systems may be useful, for example, for filtering a pulsed ion beam to select ions falling within a desired energy range and/or for providing pulsed ion radiation at desired times.

Method for producing ions for mass spectrometry analysis, including introducing vaporized sample compounds behind a supersonic nozzle and expanding the sample compounds with a carrier gas from the supersonic nozzle into a supersonic nozzle vacuum chamber proximate thereto for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization. Sample compounds are ionized by either illumination with vacuum ultra-violet photons produced by a continuously operated vacuum ultra-violet photon source or by electrons produced in a fly-through electron ionization ion source; and the ions are transferred to a mass analyzer mounted in a mass analyzer vacuum chamber to obtain mass spectra from vibrationally cold molecules. A quadrupole mass analyzer mounted may be used to obtain mass spectra with dominant molecular ions and fragment ion intensities below 3% of the molecular ion for hydrocarbons. Carrier gas flow rate may exceed 20 ml/min for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization.

Method for producing ions for mass spectrometry analysis, including introducing vaporized sample compounds behind a supersonic nozzle and expanding the sample compounds with a carrier gas from the supersonic nozzle into a supersonic nozzle vacuum chamber proximate thereto for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization. Sample compounds are ionized by either illumination with vacuum ultra-violet photons produced by a continuously operated vacuum ultra-violet photon source or by electrons produced in a fly-through electron ionization ion source; and the ions are transferred to a mass analyzer mounted in a mass analyzer vacuum chamber to obtain mass spectra from vibrationally cold molecules. A quadrupole mass analyzer mounted may be used to obtain mass spectra with dominant molecular ions and fragment ion intensities below 3% of the molecular ion for hydrocarbons. Carrier gas flow rate may exceed 20 ml/min for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization.

A surface ionizer for a trace detection system includes an extreme ultraviolet light source and an ion transfer line. Activation of the extreme ultraviolet light disrupts a surface of a sample along with residue and ionizes the resulting vapor. The ionized vapor is collected in the ion transfer line and passed into an analysis device for detection of components in the vapor.

A surface ionizer for a trace detection system includes an extreme ultraviolet light source and an ion transfer line. Activation of the extreme ultraviolet light disrupts a surface of a sample along with residue and ionizes the resulting vapor. The ionized vapor is collected in the ion transfer line and passed into an analysis device for detection of components in the vapor.

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a gas is provided. An example VOC detector may include a processing device and a detecting region. The detecting region may further include a first interdigital pole electrically connected to a separation voltage source, a second interdigital pole electrically connected to a switch, and an ionization device configured to interact with the gas within the detecting region to create a plurality of ionized gas molecules. To facilitate detection of VOCs, the switch may alternate the connection of the second interdigital pole between a compensation voltage source and the processing device. The processing device may determine a number of volatile organic compounds in the gas based at least in part on a number of ionized gas molecules that contact the second interdigital pole while the second interdigital pole is electrically connected to the processing device.

Method for producing ions for mass spectrometry analysis, including introducing vaporized sample compounds behind a supersonic nozzle and expanding the sample compounds with a carrier gas from the supersonic nozzle into a supersonic nozzle vacuum chamber proximate thereto for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization. Sample compounds are ionized by either illumination with vacuum ultra-violet photons produced by a continuously operated vacuum ultra-violet photon source or by electrons produced in a fly-through electron ionization ion source; and the ions are transferred to a mass analyzer mounted in a mass analyzer vacuum chamber to obtain mass spectra from vibrationally cold molecules. A quadrupole mass analyzer mounted may be used to obtain mass spectra with dominant molecular ions and fragment ion intensities below 3% of the molecular ion for hydrocarbons. Carrier gas flow rate may exceed 20 ml/min for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization.

Method for producing ions for mass spectrometry analysis, including introducing vaporized sample compounds behind a supersonic nozzle and expanding the sample compounds with a carrier gas from the supersonic nozzle into a supersonic nozzle vacuum chamber proximate thereto for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization. Sample compounds are ionized by either illumination with vacuum ultra-violet photons produced by a continuously operated vacuum ultra-violet photon source or by electrons produced in a fly-through electron ionization ion source; and the ions are transferred to a mass analyzer mounted in a mass analyzer vacuum chamber to obtain mass spectra from vibrationally cold molecules. A quadrupole mass analyzer mounted may be used to obtain mass spectra with dominant molecular ions and fragment ion intensities below 3% of the molecular ion for hydrocarbons. Carrier gas flow rate may exceed 20 ml/min for vibrationally cooling the sample compounds prior to their ionization.