Tandem Isotope Separator-Mass Spectrometer for the Study of Ionic Collision Processes

Abstract

An isotope separator and mass spectrometer system has been assembled for the study of ionic collision processes over an energy range of 0.25 to 60 000 eV. This system consists of an isotope separator capable of delivering intense, well resolved beams of mass analyzed ions into a collision chamber which serves as the source for the analyzing mass spectrometer. This experimental arrangement provides good energy resolution of the primary ion beam and efficient collection of the products of reaction in the mass spectrometer. With the intensities available from the isotope separator, collisions of less abundant species in an ionic spectrum can be studied in detail. Absolute total cross sections for ion-neutral interchange reactions of low velocity ions are presented as well as charge transfer processes at high kinetic energies to demonstrate the applicability of this experimental arrangement in the study of atomic and molecular collisions.