Abstract

In our proposed instrument, sample ions are continuously injected into a small racetrack-shaped ring where they are stored for several orbits as the undesired species are removed.¹ This multistaged separation technique has three elements (see Fig. 1). First, the ions are mass separated by two 180° bending magnets. After this first stage of enrichment the ions are neutralized in a charge exchange cell. The beam is then reionized by a laser before it passes back into the magnets for the second time to be further concentrated. After the desired degree of enrichment is attained, the ions are directed to a particle multiplier.

© 1986 Optical Society of America