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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Monitoring Trace Contaminants in Air Via Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

Recent passage of the Clean Air Act with its stricter regulation of toxic gas emissions, and the ever-growing number of applications which require faster turnaround times between sampling and analysis are two major factors which are helping to drive the development of new instrument technologies for in-situ, on-line, real-time monitoring. The ion trap, with its small size, excellent sensitivity, and tandem mass spectrometry capability is a rapidly evolving technology which is well-suited for these applications. In this paper, we describe the use of a commercial ion trap instrument for monitoring trace levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. A number of sample introduction devices including a direct transfer line interface, short column GC, and a cryotrapping interface are employed to achieve increasing levels of sensitivity. MS, MS/MS, and MS/MS/MS methods are compared to illustrate trade-offs between sensitivity and selectivity. Filtered Noise Field (FNF) technology is found to be an excellent means for achieving lower detection limits through selective storage of the ion(s) of interest during ionization. Figures of merit including typical sample sizes, detection limits, and response times are provided. The results indicate the potential of these techniques for atmospheric assessments, the High Speed Research Program, and advanced life support monitoring applications for NASA.

Palmer, Peter T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Effect of Trapped Ions in a Gated Time-of-Flight Apparatus

K.E. Martus,O.J. Orient,A Three-mesh gate is used in a time-of-flight(TOF) apparatus to analyze the Velocity of positive ions. Test results and a theoretical description are presented of an effect arising from trapping ions between meshes of a two gate TOF velocity analyzer. The entrapped ions produce a side peak in the TOF spectra corresponding to faster ions.

time-of-flight↗
NASA NTRS2011

Dipole Field Effects on Ion Ejections from a Paul Ion Trap

Attempts at improving the quality of mass spectra obtained from a Paul trap mass spectrometer prompted an investigation of the effects of additional fields to supplement the primary rf quadrupole trapping field. Reported here are the results of the first in a series of tests that focuses on the application of a single dipole field to augment the trapping and subsequent ejections of ions stored within a Paul trap. Measurements are presented for a fixed quadrupole frequency with varying dipole frequencies. The presence of the dipole field during the quadrupole trapping phase causes ion ejections of single m/z species at discrete dipole frequencies. During the mass analysis phase, the varying dipole frequency produces a complex set of resonant structures that impact ejection time (mass range), as well as mass spectral peak intensity and width

dipole↗
NASA NTRS1996

The JPL Hg(sup +) Extended Linear Ion Trap Frequency Standard: Status, Stability, and Accuracy Prospects

Microwave frequency standards based on room temperature (sup 199)Hg(sup +) ions in a Linear Ion Trap (LITS) presently achieve a Signal to Noise and line Q inferred short frequency stability. Long term stability has been measured for averaging intervals up to 5 months with apparent sensitivity to variations in ion number/temperature limiting the flicker floor.

Hg+ linear ion trap frequency LITE LITS microwave ↗
NASA NTRS1993

Improved Linear Ion Trap Physics Package

This paper describes the improvement in the architecture of the physics package used in the Linear-Ion -Trap-(LIT)-based frequency standard recently developed at JPL.

Linear↗
NASA NTRS1993

Three-Rod Linear Ion Traps

Three-parallel-rod electrode structures proposed for use in linear ion traps and possibly for electrostatic levitation of macroscopic particles. Provides wider viewing angle because they confine ions in regions outside rod-electrode structures.

Janik, Gary R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Direct Monitoring of Trace Atmospheric Species via Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

There is an ever-increasing emphasis on the part of government agencies, academia, and industry on enhancing our understanding of atmospheric processes and assessing the impact of human activities on these processes. While issues such as the ozone hole and rising levels of greenhouse gases have received major attention. relatively little is known about the types, concentrations, sources, and sinks of hydrocarbons in the troposphere and stratosphere. Such information would be of tremendous utility in assessing the roles of various anthropogenic and biogenic processes on global carbon cycles. An ion trap mass spectrometer has been developed for monitoring trace levels of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere on NASA's DC-8 "flying laboratory". This aircraft is used to provide measurements in support of a number of "Mission to Planet Earth" activities and tropospheric chemistry experiments. In past missions, specific compounds have been monitored via highly specialized instrumentation, fast GO, or collection of whole air samples for subsequent ground-based analysis. The ion trap has several features. including small size. excellent sensitivity, and broad applicability, which make it highly atttrat:ive for atmospheric monitoring. The design of this instrument, its air sampling interface. and the various complications associated with aircraft-deployment will be described. Data showing the sensitivity of the instrument for detecting hydrocarbons at mixing ratios below one part-per-billion, and the use of MS/MS for direct, on-line, real-time monitoring will be presented.

Palmer, P. T.↗
NASA NTRS2024

The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS) Investigation Development and Pre-Flight Planning

The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS) is a mass spectrometer instrument that operated during the Astrobotic Peregrine Mission-1 as part of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. This paper describes the instrument and investigation design, development, and planning conducted by the PITMS team consisting of a successful partnership between NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), The Open University (OU), NASA, and ESA. PITMS was designed to measure the abundance and temporal variability of volatile species in the near-surface lunar exosphere from a landed platform on the lunar surface. The PITMS instrument consisted of an ESA-provided Exospheric Mass Spectrometer (EMS; including sensor, electronics, controller, power supply boards) and a GSFC wrapper that provided structural elements, thermal control, and a deployable dust cover. PITMS was designed to operate as a passive sampler, where ambient gases would enter PITMS through an aperture, diffuse around the mass analyzer cavity, become ionized by electron impact and trapped in a radiofrequency field, then sequentially released to a detector to build a mass spectrum. PITMS was capable of measuring species with a massto-charge ratio (m/z) from 10 to 150 Da, with a mass resolution of approximately 0.5 amu. The PITMS science investigation was planned to be operated by GSFC with an international team of scientists. Though the mission did not achieve its lunar landing, information about the PITMS instrument and planning is provided to be able to understand and effectively use data that will be forthcoming from the investigation.

Barbara Cohen↗
NASA NTRS2009

A New Trapped Ion Clock Based on Hg-201(+)

There are two stable odd isotopes of mercury with singly ionized hyperfine structure suitable for a microwave clock: Hg-199(+) and Hg-201(+). Virtually all trapped mercury ion clocks to date have used the 199 isotope. We have begun to investigate the viability of a trapped ion clock based on Hg-201(+). We have measured the unperturbed frequency of the (S-2)(sub 1/2) F = 1, m(sub F) = 0 to (S-2)(sub 1/2) F = 2, m(sub F) = 0 clock transition to be 29.9543658211(2) GHz. In this paper we describe initial measurements with Hg-201(+) and new applications to clocks and fundamental physics.

ion traps↗
NASA NTRS2007

Prospects for Ultra-Stable Timekeeping with Sealed Vacuum Operation in Multi-Pole Linear Ion Trap Standards

A recent long-term comparison between the compensated multi-pole Linear Ion Trap Standard (LITS) and the laser-cooled primary standards via GPS carrier phase time transfer showed a deviation of less than 2.7x10(exp -17)/day. A subsequent evaluation of potential drift contributors in the LITS showed that the leading candidates are fluctuations in background gases and the neon buffer gas. The current vacuum system employs a "flow-through" turbomolecular pump and a diaphragm fore pump. Here we consider the viability of a "sealed" vacuum system pumped by a non-evaporable getter for long-term ultra-stable clock operation. Initial tests suggests that both further stability improvement and longer mean-time-between-maintenance can be achieved using this approach

timekeeping stability↗
NASA NTRS1992

Criteria for ultrastable operation of the trapped ion frequency standard

The leading systematic perturbations to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL's) mercury trapped ion frequency standard are characterized under present operating conditions. Sensitivity of the standard to environmental variations is measured, and the required regulation of key components to obtain a stability of 10(exp -16) is identified.

Tjoelker, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

An improved linear ion trap physics package

This article describes an improvement in the architecture of the physics package used in the Linear Ion Trap (LIT)-based frequency standard recently developed at JPL. This new design is based on the observation that ions can be moved along the axis of an LIT by applied dc voltages. The state selection and interrogation region can be separated from the more critical microwave resonance region where the multiplied local oscillator signal is compared with the stable atomic transition. This separation relaxes many of the design constraints of the present units. Improvements include increased frequency stability and a substantial reduction in size, mass, and cost of the final frequency standard.

Prestage, J. D.↗