Patent attributes
A method of separating ions according to their time of flight is provided comprising: a. providing an analyzer comprising two opposing ion mirrors, each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis with the outer field-defining electrode system surrounding the inner field-defining electrode system and creating therebetween an analyzer volume; b. injecting ions into the analyzer volume or creating ions within the analyzer volume so that they separate according to their time of flight as they travel along a main flight path while undergoing a plurality of axial oscillations in the direction of the analyzer axis and a plurality of radial oscillations while orbiting about one or more inner field-defining electrodes; c. the plurality of axial oscillations and plurality of radial oscillations causing the separated ions to intercept an exit port after a predetermined number of orbits. Also provided is an analyzer for performing the method, comprising: the two opposing ion mirrors which abut at a first plane, wherein the outer field-defining electrode system of one mirror comprises two sections, the sections abutting at a second plane, comprising a first section between the first plane and the second plane, and a second section adjacent the first section and wherein the first section has at least a portion which extends radially from the analyzer axis a greater extent than an adjacent portion of the second section at the second plane.
