Automatic gain control with defocusing lens

1. A mass spectrometer for analyzing sample molecules, comprising:

an electron source, configured to emit electrons;

an ion trap for receiving the emitted electrons, such that the received electrons ionize one or more sample molecules in the trap;

an ion detector for detecting ions exiting from the ion trap; and

a controller, including:

a first voltage-controlled lens located between the electron source and the ion trap, wherein the first lens has an aperture configured to allow the emitted electrons to pass through the first lens and enter the ion trap, and wherein the first lens is configured to adjust an electron-entry rate by which the electrons enter the ion trap based on a control voltage applied to the first lens, such that the electron-entry rate is configured, based on an adjustment of the control voltage, to be adjusted between a first nonzero rate and a second nonzero rate; and

a voltage controller configured to apply the control voltage to the first lens.

2. The mass spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the ion trap consists of a ring electrode, a first end cap electrode with an entrance aperture, and a second end cap electrode with an exit aperture.

3. The mass spectrometer of claim 2 , wherein the lens aperture is wider than the entrance aperture of the first end cap electrode.

4. The mass spectrometer of claim 1 , further including:

a second lens with a second lens aperture positioned between the ion trap and the ion detector, wherein the second lens is configured to focus the ions towards the detector.

5. The mass spectrometer of claim 4 , wherein the second lens aperture is covered with a screen for shielding the ion trap from an electric field generated by the detector.

6. The mass spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the second lens aperture is wider than the exit aperture of the second end cap electrode.

7. The mass spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the electron source comprises an electron filament composed of an yttria-coated iridium disc.

8. A method for controlling a mass spectrometer, wherein the method comprises:

applying a control voltage, set to an initial value, to a voltage-controlled lens located between an electron source and an ion trap of the mass spectrometer, wherein the electron source emits electrons through the voltage-controlled lens and into the ion trap;

emitting electrons to the ion trap through the voltage-controlled lens while the control voltage is applied to the voltage-controlled lens;

analyzing a sample in the ion trap and detecting a spectrum output;

measuring an output parameter of the spectrum output; and

determining, based on the measured parameter, whether to adjust the control voltage.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein measuring the output parameter further includes:

measuring for possible space charge effects in the spectrum output;

determining, based on the presence of space charge effects, whether to adjust the control voltage; and

using the final voltage for performing subsequent spectrum scans.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including:

setting the initial value of the control voltage to about or greater than −70 V during a period of emitting electrons into the ion trap intended to ionize sample molecules in the ion trap.

11. The method of claim 8 , further including:

setting the initial value of the voltage of the electron source to about −70 V during a period of introducing electrons into the ion trap.

12. The method of claim 8 , further including:

setting the initial value of the voltage of the electron source to about −15 V during a period of ejecting ions from the trap towards a detector.

13. The method of claim 8 , further including:

setting the initial value of the voltage of the electron source to about 50% of the control voltage during a period of ejecting ions from the trap towards a detector.

14. The method of claim 8 , further including:

setting a DC component of the first end cap voltage to be between −15 V and +15 V during a period of ejecting ions from the trap.