METHOD OF IGNITING CORONA DISCHARGE IN ION SOURCE OF ION MOBILITY SPECTROMETER Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC H01J49/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method is based on use of a pulsed source of corona discharge, having not less one pair of ignitor electrodes, a high-voltage pulsed generator for igniting corona discharge and a pulsed electric field generator in the ionisation region. Before at least on voltage pulse generated at the ignitor electrodes in the basic ionisation phase, at least one additional voltage pulse is generated at the ignitor electrodes, during which electric field intensity in the ionisation region has a value which is lower than the normal level or equal to zero, and at the moment of transmitting to ignitor electrodes one or a series of voltage pulses of the basic ionisation phase, electric field strength in the ionisation region is set at nominal level, thus modulating the field during ignition.

EFFECT: high stability of operation of the spectrometer, high resolution and sensitivity of the device and avoiding the need for additional discharge electrodes for preliminary ionisation in the ionisation chamber, which simplifies the design of the ion source and electronic control circuit.

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