The present invention relates to the high resolution imaging of samples using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and to the imaging of biological samples by imaging mass cytometry (IMCTM) in which labelling atoms are detected by IMS. LA-ICP-MS (a form of IMS in which the sample is ablated by a laser, the ablated material is then ionised in an inductively coupled plasma before the ions are detected by mass spectrometry) has been used for analysis of various substances, such as mineral analysis of geological samples, analysis of archaeological samples, and imaging of biological substances. However, traditional LA-ICP-MS systems and methods may not provide high resolution. Described herein are methods and systems for high resolution IMS and IMC.

A dual source ionizer is provided. The dual source ionizer includes a first photoionization source configured to emit low flux ultraviolet (UV) light to generate primarily NO.sub.3.sup.− ions, and a second photoionization source configured to emit high flux UV light to generate primarily ions other than NO.sub.3.sup.− ions.

A extreme ultraviolet (EUV) imaging spectrometer includes: a radiation source to: produce EUV radiation; subject a sample to the EUV radiation; photoionize a plurality of atoms of the sample; and form photoions from the atoms subject to photoionization by the EUV radiation, the photoions being field evaporated from the sample in response to the sample being subjected to the EUV radiation; and an ion detector to detect the photoions: as a function of a time-of-arrival of the photoions at the ion detector after the sample is subjected to the EUV radiation; or as a function of a position of the photoions at the ion detector.

A photoionization detector is disclosed. The photoionization detector comprises a detector electrode that outputs a signal, an ultraviolet lamp, a lamp driver communicatively coupled to the ultraviolet lamp and configured to turn the ultraviolet lamp on and off in response to a control input, and a controller that is communicatively coupled to the output signal of the detector electrode and to the control input of the lamp driver, that outputs an indication of gas detection based on the output signal of the detector electrode, and that turns the lamp driver on and off with an on duty cycle of less than 10%.

Provided is a sample support body that includes a substrate and an ionization substrate. The ionization substrate has a measurement region for dropping a sample on a second surface. A plurality of through-holes that open in a first surface and the second surface are formed in at least the measurement region of the ionization substrate. A conductive layer is provided on peripheral edges of the through-holes on at least the second surface. At least a part of the substrate which is adjacent to the ionization substrate is formed to enable the sample to move to the inside of the substrate.

The sample support is used for ionization of a sample contained in a sample solution dropped using a pipette tip. The sample support includes a substrate formed with a plurality of through holes opened in a first surface and a second surface, and a frame that is formed with a through hole penetrating in a thickness direction of the substrate so as to overlap a measurement region when viewed from the thickness direction and that is bonded to the first surface of the substrate. The through hole of the frame includes a narrow portion having a width smaller than the outer diameter of a tip of the pipette tip.

The present invention provides a sample plate for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, comprising: a hydrophilic thin film capable of absorbing a laser ray; and a water-repellent thin film comprising surface-hydrophobized nanoparticles and being stacked in a region other than a region to be a sample spot on a surface of the hydrophilic thin film, wherein a water contact angle of the water-repellent thin film is 120° or more.

Disclosed herein are compositions for ionizing a target and methods for making the compositions. In some embodiments, the compositions can include a structured substrate having a plurality of upright surface features, for example, microscale or nanoscale pillars, in contact with an initiator. Also disclosed herein are methods for ionizing targets.

In order to simplify a power circuit, a linear ion trap (2) according to the present invention includes: two first rod electrodes (21, 22) facing each other across a central axis (C), each of the first rod electrodes having an opening (21a, 22a); two second rod electrodes (23, 24) facing each other across the central axis, in a direction different from the direction in which the two first rod electrodes face each other; and a pair of end electrodes (25, 26) respectively arranged outside the two end faces of the two first rod electrodes and the two second rod electrodes. A controller (7) is provided to control a radio-frequency voltage supplier (4) which applies a radio-frequency voltage for capturing ions to each of the two second rod electrodes, and an excitation voltage supplier (5) which applies a voltage for resonance excitation to each of the two first rod electrodes.

The embodiments relate to a method and an apparatus for the molecular atomic analysis of a fluid in the gaseous state, in particular the method includes introducing a fluid in the gaseous state into a collection chamber having a predetermined internal volume V and generating a laser beam through a laser device. The method may also include focusing the beam onto the fluid sited in the collection chamber, in order to create an electric field in at least a portion V′ of the internal volume V, so as to excite the electrons residing on the atoms and molecules present in said fluid in the gaseous state, causing an atomic/molecular alteration of the fluid itself in said portion V′. The method provides detecting the elements emitted after focusing the beam on the fluid, through detection devices and analyzing the elements detected by the detection devices using a processing unit.