DUST-IMPACT MASS SPECTROMETER Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: mass spectrometry primarily for space investigations. SUBSTANCE: mass spectrometer has cylindrical electrostatic reflector incorporating external and internal grids around target with holes, ion source mounted in center of target and provided with heater, electron reflector, control and accelerating grids, ion receivers in the form of secondary electron accelerators with respective semi-spherical focusing electrodes installed on target side opposite to that suffering impact actions symmetrically relative to each of its holes at fixed distance from target; outputs of focusing electrodes are connected to ion spectrum processing unit; control grid, electron reflector, and ion source heater are connected to respective voltage and current supplies; target and accelerating grid of ion source are connected to time-varying pulse voltage source; external grid of electrostatic cylindrical reflector is connected to flat reflector and to voltage supply; pushing grid is connected to internal grid of cylindrical reflector. EFFECT: improved measurement accuracy. 10 dwg