High sensitivity pulse-counting mass spectrometer system for noble gas analysis

1 August 1980

journal article
research article
Published by AIP Publishing in Review of Scientific Instruments

Vol. 51 (8) , 1075-1082
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1136365

Abstract

A pulse‐counting mass spectrometer is described which is comprised of a new ion source of cylindrical geometry, with exceptional optical properties (the Baur source), a dual focal plane externally adjustable collector slits, and a 17‐stage Allen‐type electron multiplier, all housed in a metal 21 cm radius, 90° magnetic sector flight tube. Mass discrimination of the instrument is less than 1 per mil per mass unit; the optical transmission is more than 90%; the source sensitivity (Faraday collection) is 4 ma/torr at 250μm emission; and the abundance sensitivity is 3×10⁴. A low blank extrction system is also described which routinely provides precedural blanks at 1600°C of approximately 10,000 atoms of ¹³²Xe. The corresponding blanks for ⁸⁴Kr, ³⁶Ar, and ²⁰Ne are 70,000, 4×10⁶, and 5×10⁷ atoms respectively.

Keywords

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:

High Sensitivity Mass Spectrometer for Noble Gas Analysis
Review of Scientific Instruments, 1956