Combining high mass resolution and velocity imaging in a time-of-flight ion spectrometer using pulsed fields and an electrostatic lens

We describe a momentum resolving time-of-flight ion mass spectrometer that combines a high mass resolution, a velocity focusing condition for improved momentum resolution, and field-free conditions in the source region for high resolution electron detection. It is used in electron-ion coincidence experiments to record multiple ionic fragments produced in breakup reactions of small to medium sized molecules, such as F3SiCH2CH2Si(CH3)(3). These breakup reactions are caused by soft x rays or intense laser fields. The ion spectrometer uses pulsed extraction fields, an electrostatic lens, and a delay line detector to resolve the position. Additionally, we describe a simple analytical method for calculating the momentum from the measured hit position and the time of flight of the ions. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.