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

该项目旨在开发实现非破坏性离子检测技术所需的硬件，以提高托勒密式离子陷阱质谱仪的质量分辨率和灵敏度。在运行期间，我们打算像往常一样捕获离子，但在质谱仪探测器内的拾取板上将测量到图像电流。测量的镜像电流由质谱计中捕获的离子的所有单个离子频率的复数和组成。通过对测量的镜像电流进行傅里叶变换(FT)，可以提取这些俘获离子的单个m/z值的质谱图。因此，FT探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，可以进行极高分辨率的测量。此外，FT检测的非破坏性性质提供了多次测量俘获离子群的能力，从而增加了探测器的积分持续时间，从而导致非常高的仪器灵敏度。预计这种仪器将比目前的技术具有分析(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方面的最新进展，该项目是及时的。该研究最初以空间飞行应用为目标，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陷阱质谱仪的SIMION模型，并将其精度与实际飞行硬件进行比较。然后将开发SIMION模型并对其进行调整，以纳入图像电流拾取板，该模型的输出将使质谱仪探测器系统的CAD模型能够生产出来，为初始原型制造做好准备。在SIMION建模的同时，将产生一份电子需求规范，以使原型电子设计能够设计、建造和评估。

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.