System for studying a sample of material using a heavy ion induced mass spectrometer source

Patent · Tue Jul 21 00:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:871732

Fries, David P ^[1]; Browning, James F ^[2]

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1. St. Petersburg, FL
2. Palm Harbour, FL

A heavy ion generator is used with a plasma desorption mass spectrometer to provide an appropriate neutron flux in the direction of a fissionable material in order to desorb and ionize large molecules from the material for mass analysis. The heavy ion generator comprises a fissionable material having a high n,f reaction cross section. The heavy ion generator also comprises a pulsed neutron generator that is used to bombard the fissionable material with pulses of neutrons, thereby causing heavy ions to be emitted from the fissionable material. These heavy ions impinge on a material, thereby causing ions to desorb off that material. The ions desorbed off the material pass through a time-of-flight mass analyzer, wherein ions can be measured with masses greater than 25,000 amu.

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN SPEC COMPONENT
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-92AL73000
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5784424
• OSTI ID: 871732
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

studying
sample
material
heavy
induced
mass
spectrometer
source
generator
plasma
desorption
provide
appropriate
neutron
flux
direction
fissionable
desorb
ionize
molecules
analysis
comprises
reaction
section
pulsed
bombard
pulses
neutrons
causing
emitted
impinge
desorbed
pass
time-of-flight
analyzer
measured
masses
25
000
amu
time-of-flight mass
generator comprises
mass spectrometer
neutron flux
fissionable material
pulsed neutron
neutron generator
mass analyzer
spectrometer source
flight mass
mass analysis
material pass
induced mass
plasma desorption
appropriate neutron
desorption mass
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