The invention relates to a holding device for at least one filament, comprising: at least one filament receptacle for receiving the at least one filament. The holding device is designed for the detachable attachment, in particular clamping attachment, of the at least one filament receptacle to a container of an ionization device. The invention also relates to a mass spectrometer comprising: an ionization device having a container in which an ionization space for ionizing a gas is formed, at least one holding device which is designed for the detachable attachment, in particular clamping attachment, of the at least one filament receptacle to the container, and a vacuum housing to which the holding device, in particular a base body of the holding device, is detachably connected.

The invention relates to a holding device for at least one filament, comprising: at least one filament receptacle for receiving the at least one filament. The holding device is designed for the detachable attachment, in particular clamping attachment, of the at least one filament receptacle to a container of an ionization device. The invention also relates to a mass spectrometer comprising: an ionization device having a container in which an ionization space for ionizing a gas is formed, at least one holding device which is designed for the detachable attachment, in particular clamping attachment, of the at least one filament receptacle to the container, and a vacuum housing to which the holding device, in particular a base body of the holding device, is detachably connected.

Provided is a time-of-flight mass spectrometer including: an ionization part receiving electron beams to thereby emit ions; a cold electron supply part injecting the electron beams to the ionization part; an ion detection part detecting the ions emitted from the ionization part; and an ion separation part connecting the ionization part and the ion detection part, wherein the cold electron supply part includes a microchannel plate receiving ultraviolet rays to thereby emit the electron beams, the ions emitted from the ionization part pass through the ion separation part to thereby reach the ion detection part, and the ion separation part has a straight tube shape.

Certain configurations of an ionization source comprising a multipolar rod assembly are described. In some examples, the multipolar rod assembly can be configured to provide a magnetic field and a radio frequency field into an ion volume formed by a substantially parallel arrangement of rods of the multipolar rod assembly. The ionization source may also comprise an electron source configured to provide electrons into the ion volume of the multipolar rod assembly to ionize analyte introduced into the ion volume. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

Certain configurations of an ionization source comprising a multipolar rod assembly are described. In some examples, the multipolar rod assembly can be configured to provide a magnetic field and a radio frequency field into an ion volume formed by a substantially parallel arrangement of rods of the multipolar rod assembly. The ionization source may also comprise an electron source configured to provide electrons into the ion volume of the multipolar rod assembly to ionize analyte introduced into the ion volume. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

An electron source in a gas-source mass spectrometer the electron source comprising: an electron emitter cathode presenting a thermionic electron emitter surface in communication with a gas-source chamber of the gas-source mass spectrometer for providing electrons there to; a heater element electrically isolated from the electron emitter cathode and arranged to be heated by an electrical current therein and to radiate heat to the electron emitter cathode sufficient to liberate electrons thermionically from said electron emitter surface, therewith to provide a source of electrons for use in ionising a gas the gas-source chamber.

Certain configurations of an ionization source comprising a multipolar rod assembly are described. In some examples, the multipolar rod assembly can be configured to provide a magnetic field and a radio frequency field into an ion volume formed by a substantially parallel arrangement of rods of the multipolar rod assembly. The ionization source may also comprise an electron source configured to provide electrons into the ion volume of the multipolar rod assembly to ionize analyte introduced into the ion volume. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

Certain configurations of an ionization source comprising a multipolar rod assembly are described. In some examples, the multipolar rod assembly can be configured to provide a magnetic field and a radio frequency field into an ion volume formed by a substantially parallel arrangement of rods of the multipolar rod assembly. The ionization source may also comprise an electron source configured to provide electrons into the ion volume of the multipolar rod assembly to ionize analyte introduced into the ion volume. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

An electron source in a gas-source mass spectrometer the electron source comprising: an electron emitter cathode presenting a thermionic electron emitter surface in communication with a gas-source chamber of the gas-source mass spectrometer for providing electrons there to; a heater element electrically isolated from the electron emitter cathode and arranged to be heated by an electrical current therein and to radiate heat to the electron emitter cathode sufficient to liberate electrons thermionically from said electron emitter surface, therewith to provide a source of electrons for use in ionising a gas the gas-source chamber.

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) is performed by transmitting an electron beam through a cell along an electron beam axis, generating plasma in the cell by energizing a gas with the electron beam, and transmitting an ion beam through the interaction region along an ion beam axis to produce fragment ions. Generating the plasma forms an interaction region in the cell spaced from and not intersecting the electron beam, and including low-energy electrons effective for ECD. The ion beam axis may be at an angle to and offset from the ion beam axis, such that the electron beam does not intersect the ion beam.