A multi-reflection time-of-flight setup for the improvement and development of new methods and the study of atomic clusters

Abstract

A multi-reflection time-of-flight (MR-ToF) device has been set up for the development and test of new MR-ToF techniques and for future applications in atomic cluster research. The instrument, consisting of a laser-ablation ion source, a quadrupole bender, the MR-ToF analyzer (with ion mirrors and in-trap lift), and a channeltron detector, is described in detail and characterized with respect to preliminary results of its performance parameters. In addition, cluster ions were mass selected in the MR-ToF device and photodissociated. The charged fragments were stored and mass analyzed in a proof-of-principle MS/MS experiment where both MS steps were performed in the MR-ToF operation mode.