PNNL

Abstract

Recent improvements in single particle mass spectrometers make it possible to optically detect, size, and characterize the compositions of individual particles with diameters larger than a micron and smaller than 100 nm. Based on particle detection in two stages of optical detection these instruments generate a precisely timed trigger pulse, which is used to fire the ion generation laser or lasers. Practical experience shows that the wide size range results in small, but significant differences in laser trigger timing between small and large particles. If not treated, the instrument hit-rate becomes size dependent and instrument operator is forced to optimize the instrument for the desired size range, while having to contend with a lower hit-rate for the other. The present paper presents an analysis of the problem, demonstrating that size dependence of laser trigger timing stems from the differences in the particle position within the detection laser beam at the instant of detection. It shows that it is possible to compensate for these differences by generation a laser trigger delay coefficient for individual particles as a function of particle time of flight, i.e. its size. The study also shows that a single function can be used to characterize particles with a wide range of densities.