A water-containing simulated lunar soil preparation and water content measurement system and method is provided. The system includes a water-containing simulated lunar soil preparation unit, a low-pressure environment simulation unit, and a water content analysis unit. The water-containing simulated lunar soil preparation unit includes a preparation pipeline, a low-temperature lunar soil cold trap, and a low-temperature water ice cold trap. Both ends of the preparation pipeline are connected with the low-temperature lunar soil cold trap and the low-temperature water ice cold trap through a first opening and closing valve and a second opening and closing valve, respectively. The low-pressure environment simulation unit includes a low-pressure pipeline provided with a vacuum pump. Both ends of the low-pressure pipeline are connected with the preparation pipeline and the water content analysis unit through a first pneumatic valve and a second pneumatic valve, respectively.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for separating ions at about or above atmospheric pressure. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems that include an ionization source that generates ions and an ion trap. The ion trap is maintained at about or above atmospheric pressure and includes a plurality of electrodes and at least one inlet configured to receive a gas flow and at least one outlet. The system is configured such that a combination of a gas flow and one or more electric fields produced by the electrodes separates the ions based on mass-to-charge ratio and sends the separated ions through the at least one outlet of the ion trap.

A multi-cell apparatus and method for single ion addressing are described herein. One apparatus includes a first cell configured to set a frequency, intensity, and a polarization of a laser and shutter the laser, a second cell configured to align the shuttered laser to an ion in an ion trap such that the ion fluoresces light and/or performs a quantum operation, and a third cell configured to detect the light fluoresced from the ion.

A method of operating a mass spectrometer comprising: detecting a first ion species using a first gain setting of a detector or a first emission current for a first mass-to-charge range; detecting a second ion species using a second gain setting of the detector or a second emission current for a second mass-to-charge range; and using the detected first and second ion species to calibrate the mass range of a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer, to tune the resolution of the mass analyzer, or to tune an ion optic of the mass spectrometer.

A water-containing simulated lunar soil preparation and water content measurement system and method is provided. The system includes a water-containing simulated lunar soil preparation unit, a low-pressure environment simulation unit, and a water content analysis unit. The water-containing simulated lunar soil preparation unit includes a preparation pipeline, a low-temperature lunar soil cold trap, and a low-temperature water ice cold trap. Both ends of the preparation pipeline are connected with the low-temperature lunar soil cold trap and the low-temperature water ice cold trap through a first opening and closing valve and a second opening and closing valve, respectively. The low-pressure environment simulation unit includes a low-pressure pipeline provided with a vacuum pump. Both ends of the low-pressure pipeline are connected with the preparation pipeline and the water content analysis unit through a first pneumatic valve and a second pneumatic valve, respectively.

The invention generally relates to systems for analyzing a sample and methods of use thereof. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include an ionization probe and a mass analyzer. The probe includes a hollow body that has a distal tip. The probe also includes a substrate that is at least partially disposed within the body and positioned prior to the distal tip so that sample extracted from the substrate flows into the body prior to exiting the distal tip. The probe also includes an electrode that operably interacts with sample extracted from the substrate.

The disclosure relates to an ion guiding device, including which comprises two sets of electrodes extending along a certain space axis, a first power supply device and a second power supply device. The electrodes are expandably arranged along a direction perpendicular to the space axis, at least one surface of each electrode in each set of electrodes is substantially on the same space plane, and the space planes for each set of electrodes are not same and not parallel, thereby forming an ion transmission channel having the cross sectional area gradually reduced in a direction perpendicular to the space axis; the first power supply device is used for applying radio-frequency voltages on at least a part of electrodes in the two sets of electrodes; and the second power supply device is used for applying voltage signals on at least a part of electrodes in the two sets of electrodes.

A quadrupole is filled with ions and the ions are cooled by applying a pressure and gas flow within the quadrupole. Ions are trapped in the quadrupole by applying a DC voltage and an RF voltage to quadrupole rods of the quadrupole, one or more DC voltages to a plurality of auxiliary electrodes of the quadrupole, and a DC voltage and an RF voltage to an exit lens at the end of the quadrupole. The ions are coherently oscillated after the filling and cooling by applying a coherent excitation between at least two rods of the quadrupole rods. The coherently oscillating ions are axially ejected through the exit lens and to a destructive detector for detection by changing one or more voltages of the one or more DC voltages of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes and changing the DC voltage of the exit lens.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for separating ions at about or above atmospheric pressure. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems that include an ionization source that generates ions and an ion trap. The ion trap is maintained at about or above atmospheric pressure and includes a plurality of electrodes and at least one inlet configured to receive a gas flow and at least one outlet. The system is configured such that a combination of a gas flow and one or more electric fields produced by the electrodes separates the ions based on mass-to-charge ratio and sends the separated ions through the at least one outlet of the ion trap.

The invention relates to a mass spectrometer, comprising an ion guide having a plurality of electrodes that are supplied with a radio frequency voltage to facilitate radial confinement of ions in an internal volume defined by inward facing surfaces of the electrodes, the internal volume including a first section having a variable radial diameter along a longitudinal axis of the ion guide, in which the electrodes are helically wound, and an adjacent second section having a substantially constant radial diameter along the longitudinal axis, wherein the electrodes extend from the first section to the second section continuously. The continuous nature of the ion guide electrodes facilitates in particular unhindered axial propagation of ions through the assembly and prevents ion losses during their transmission through different compartments of the mass spectrometer.