Apertured diaphragms between RF ion guides
An apertured diaphragm disposed with an RF ion guide includes at least one of a weakly conductive solid dielectric material and a non-conducting dielectric with a weakly conducting surface layer.
1. An apertured diaphragm disposed with an RF ion guide, comprising at least one of a weakly conductive solid dielectric material and a non-conducting dielectric with a weakly conducting surface layer.
2. The apertured diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the resistance of the weakly conductive solid dielectric material is greater than approximately 10 3 ohmmeters.
3. The apertured diaphragm of claim 2 , wherein the resistance of the weakly conductive solid dielectric material is between approximately 10 4 and 10 6 ohmmeters.
4. The apertured diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the apertured diaphragm is positioned between two adjacent ion guides.
5. The apertured diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the apertured diaphragm serves as voltage connector for devices located inside the RF fields of ion guides.
6. The apertured diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the RF ion guide is split into several segments.
7. A mass spectrometer system, comprising:
a mass spectrometer;
a plurality of RF ion guides;
an apertured diaphragm comprising at least one of a weakly conductive solid dielectric material and a non-conducting dielectric with a weakly conducting surface layer, which apertured diaphragm is disposed between the RF ion guides; and
an ion source that directs ions towards the mass spectrometer through the RF ion guides and the apertured diaphragm.