Apparatus and method are proposed for the strong improvement of dynamic range (DR) of detectors and of data systems for time- of-f light mass spectrometers (TOF MS) with periodically repetitive signals. TOF separated ions are converted into secondary particles, primarily electrons, and the flow of secondary particles is controllably attenuated to sustain the data acquisition system in a counting mode above the electronic noise threshold. The acquisition time is split between at least two time segments, characterized by alternated transmission efficiency SE of secondary particles. Using strong electron suppression (SE«1) is employed for recording intense ion peak, while counting ions with either ADC, or TDC, or ADC with extracting peak centroids. A longer time segment employs an efficient electron transfer (SE=1) for detecting weak ion species. In another independent aspect, an ion-optical element is provided upstream of the ion detector and is configured to deflect, reflect or retard ions such that ions that have been scattered or fragmented in the time of flight region do not impact on the ion detector.
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机译：提出了用于具有周期性重复信号的探测器的动态范围（DR）和数据系统的动态范围（DR）和数据系统的能量和方法。将分离离子分离成二次粒子，主要是电子，并且次级粒子的流动可控制地衰减以在电子噪声阈值上方的计数模式下维持数据采集系统。采集时间在至少两个时间段之间分开，其特征在于次级粒子的交替传输效率 se 。使用强电子抑制（SE«1）用于记录强浓度的离子峰，同时将离子与ADC或TDC或ADC进行计数，与提取峰质心。较长的时间段采用有效的电子转移（ Se = 1 ），用于检测弱离子物种。在另一个独立的方面，离子光学元件设置在离子检测器的上游，并且被配置为偏转，反射或延迟离子，使得已经在飞行区域的时间散射或分散的离子不会影响离子检测器。
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