Axial atmospheric pressure photo-ionization imaging source and inlet device

摘要

An ambient or atmospheric pressure ion source that comprises a laser source 1 that generates ions and/or neutral particles from a target 2. A transfer device 10 causes the ions and/or neutral particles to pass along a first path or axis within the transfer device 10, while a secondary activation device 6 directs laser radiation or photons along, across or over at least a portion of the first path or axis to cause secondary activation of the ions and/or neutral particles. The transfer device 10 may comprise one or more capillaries, hollow guides or optical fibres. The secondary activation source 6 may comprise a laser source, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), or infra-red (IR) photon sources. The secondary activation may involve a process of photo-fragmentation, photo-activation, photo-dissociation, Electron Capture Dissociation (ECD), Electron Transfer Dissociation (ETD), declustering, fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) reactions or hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) reactions.