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Californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry in a low-voltage regime

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6902802

A 252-Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometer has been constructed which utilizes the reflectron principle of velocity focusing and operates in a low-voltage regime (i.e. below 1 kV). At these voltages, the lineshape of the 252-Cf plasma desorption spectrum is very sensitive to small changes in instrumental parameters, making it an ideal method of studying fundamental time-of-flight and desorption processes. Studies using this mass spectrometer have demonstrated that an electrostatic particle guide can be used to transmit ions having energies as low as 5 V. The velocity focusing capability of the Mamyrin reflectron in the 100 V energy range has been demonstrated. Studies of the secondary electron emission from microchannel plate surfaces by peptide molecular ions in the velocity threshold region have been performed. Results show that the secondary electron emission coefficient is linearly proportional to the incident ion mass and exponentially proportional to the incident ion velocity.

Research Organization:
Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (USA)
OSTI ID:
6902802
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English