Improved stability of multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometers through passive and active voltage stabilization
Résumé
Multi-reflection time-of-flight (MR-ToF) spectrometers are devices in which ions are reflected between two electrostatic mirrors to prolong their flight path. The performance of the apparatus relies on the stability of the voltages that are used to define the mirror potentials. Especially the voltage of the mirror electrodes at the point where the ions reverse the direction of their axial motion needs to be stable in order to minimize fluctuations of their total flight time. Here we present a method to increase the short- and long-term stability of suitable voltage supplies for enhanced performance of the spectrometer.