A high resolution, high sensitivity miniature mass spectrometer for deployment by penetrators

本项目旨在开发实现无损离子检测技术所需的硬件，以提高托勒密式离子阱质谱仪的质量分辨率和灵敏度。在操作过程中，我们打算像往常一样捕获离子，但图像电流将在质谱仪检测器内的拾取板上测量。测量的图像电流由质谱仪捕获的所有单个离子频率的复和组成。通过对测量的图像电流进行傅里叶变换（FT），可以提取这些捕获离子的单个m/z值的质谱。因此，FT检测提供了同时检测所有捕获离子的独特能力，并且具有足够高的采样率，可以实现极高分辨率的测量。此外，FT检测的非破坏性特性提供了多次测量捕获离子种群的能力，从而增加了探测器的集成持续时间，从而产生非常高的仪器灵敏度。预计这种仪器将比现有技术具有分析（质量分辨率、灵敏度）和系统（即质量和功率）优势。由于集成FT组件的可用性和性能的最新进展，该项目是及时的。该项目的最初目标是空间飞行应用，研究还将考虑其对实验室同位素地球化学的适用性。在该项目的第一阶段，将开发当前托勒密离子阱质谱仪的SIMION模型，并将其与实际飞行硬件进行比较。然后，SIMION模型将被开发和调整，以纳入图像电流拾取板，该模型的输出将允许生产质谱仪检测器系统的CAD模型，为初始原型制造做好准备。在SIMION建模的同时，将编制电子需求规范，以便设计、建造和评估原型电子设计。

This project aims to develop the hardware required to realise a non-destructive ion detection technique to increase the mass resolution and sensitivity of the Ptolemy-style ion trap mass spectrometer. During operation we intend to trap ions as normal, but an image current will be measured at a pick-up plate within the mass spectrometer detector. The measured image current consists of a complex sum of all the individual ion frequencies of the ions trapped within the mass spectrometer at that moment. A mass spectrum of the individual m/z values of these captive ions can be extracted by performing a Fourier Transform (FT) on the measured image current. Thus, FT detection offers the unique ability to detect all of the trapped ions simultaneously and with sufficiently high sampling rates extremely high resolution measurements are possible. In addition, the non-destructive nature of FT detection offers the ability to measure a trapped ion population many times, thus increasing detector integration durations, resulting in very high instrument sensitivity. It is anticipated that such an instrument will have analytical (mass resolution, sensitivity) and systematic (i.e. mass and power) advantages over current technology. The project is timely due to recent advances in availability and performance of integrated FT components. Targeted initially at space flight applications, the study will also consider its applicability to laboratory-based isotope geochemistry During the first phase of the project a SIMION model of the current Ptolemy ion trap mass spectrometer will be developed and its accuracy compared to real flight-hardware. The SIMION model will then be developed and adapted to incorporate image current pick-up plates and outputs from the model will allow a CAD model of the mass spectrometer detector system to be produced ready for initial prototype manufacture. In parallel the SIMION modelling, an electronics requirement specification will be produced to enable a prototype electronics design to be designed, constructed and evaluated.