Ion source and method for generating elemental ions from aerosol particles
US10176976B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J49/161
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to an ion source (50) for generating elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides from aerosol particles, comprising: a reduced pressure chamber (61) having an inside; an inlet (56) and a flow restricting device (60) for inserting the aerosol particles in a dispersion comprising the aerosol particles dispersed in a gas, in particular in air, into the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61), the inlet (60) fluidly coupling an outside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) via the flow restricting device (60) with the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (60); a laser (62) for inducing in a plasma region (63) in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a plasma in the dispersion for atomizing and ionizing the aerosol particles to elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides; wherein the reduced pressure chamber (61) is adapted for achieving and maintaining in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a pressure in a range from 0.01 mbar to 100 mbar. The invention further relates to a method for generating elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides from aerosol particles, comprising the steps of inserting aerosol particles in a dispersion comprising …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.