JPH043386Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an ion source that ionizes a sample by applying neutral particles or ions.

Recently, attention has been paid to an ion source that ionizes a sample by applying high-speed neutral particles or ions to the sample. In such an ion source, a sample is prepared by dissolving or mixing it in, for example, glycerol (which is a liquid at room temperature), and the prepared liquid sample is placed on a target and irradiated with neutral particles or ions. It has the characteristic of being able to ionize up to a high mass number region. However, in a region with a high mass number, the amount of ions generated is generally not sufficient, so it is desired to improve measurement accuracy by integrating over a long period of time. However, there is a limit to the amount of sample that can be placed on the target, and in the past, sample ions could not be generated over a long period of time, making it impossible to perform sufficient integration.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned points, and is an ion source in which accelerated ions or neutral particles are applied to a sample placed on a target to ionize the sample. and a gutter-like passage for transferring the liquid sample from the sample reservoir to the ion or neutral particle irradiation surface of the target, thereby providing an ion source capable of generating sample ions for a long period of time. It is an object. Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a metal target, 2 is a support supporting the target 1, and 3 is a base. Target 1 above
A hole 4 is made in the hole 4, and a sample reservoir 5 is inserted into the hole 4 from the back side. The sample reservoir 5 has a reservoir section 6 and a sample transfer section 7, and as can be seen from FIG. 2 showing the A-A cross section in FIG. 1, the sample transfer section is shaped like a gutter with the upper half of the pipe cut off. ing.

Now, pour the liquid sample C, which has been mixed with glycerol and has a suitable viscosity, into the reservoir 6 using a microsyringe, for example.
When injected into the target 1, the sample passes through the transfer part 7 and the hole 4 and reaches the surface of the target 1.
is ionized by the beam B of neutral particles or ions irradiated to the target. Since the sample consumed by ionization is sent one after another from the reservoir section 6 via the transfer section 7, sample ions can be generated over a long period of time.

By the way, when preparing a sample by mixing it with glycerol in the air, it is inevitable that air bubbles will be mixed into the prepared sample. If a normal closed pipe is used for the sample transfer section 7, when the target is inserted into the evacuated ionization chamber, the air bubbles in the sample expand and the pressure causes the sample to fly out from the tip of the pipe and scatter. , there is a high risk of contaminating the surrounding area. On this point, the present invention uses a gutter-like sample transfer section, so the upper part of the sample transfer section is open, so even if the bubble expands, it collapses immediately, unlike when using a closed pipe. It will not fly out from the tip of the pipe and pollute the surrounding area.

If a further hole is made in the target and a sample reservoir is attached, different samples such as standard samples can be simultaneously supplied onto the target. In that case,
By alternately irradiating two samples with beam B, ions of the standard sample and the test sample are generated alternately over a long period of time, making it possible to measure the mass number of the test sample with good resolution based on the standard sample. becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA. 1...metal target, 4...hole, 5...sample reservoir, 6...reservoir, 7...sample transfer section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An ion source configured to cause accelerated ions or neutral particles to collide with a sample placed on a target, which includes a sample reservoir containing a liquid sample, and from the sample reservoir to the ion or neutral particle irradiation surface of the target. An ion source characterized by being provided with a gutter-like passage for transporting the liquid sample.