Single port thermospray ion source with coaxial vapor flow

摘要

An apparatus for providing an ion vapor to be analyzed. A vaporizer probe (10), with a capillary tube (16) extending into a vapor port of an ion source (40), ejects a spray of vapor into a spray region of the ion source. Molecules within the vapor are ionised, and a minor portion of the vapor is extracted from the spray chamber for mass analysis. The major portion is coaxially redirected from the spray chamber for return to the same port which receives the capillary tube of the vapor probe. A return tube (38) is vacuum sealed to the port and is in fluid communication with a roughing pump which draws the ion vapor from the spray region through the ion source and the port.