The development of a micro-Faraday array for ion detection

A micro-Faraday array detector was evaluated for use as an ion detector for mass spectrometry. This charge-integrating detector was based upon the merging of technologies from the fields of CCDs and infrared (IR) multiplexers. Measurements were performed by exposing the detector to an Ar⁺ ion beam of low flux. The array detector responds to both positive and negative charges and preliminary results indicate a detection limit of 100 ions. Current data indicate that the linear dynamic range of the device is over five orders of magnitude. The capability of the device to perform specialized charge read out modes could theoretically both lower the detection limit by a factor of seven and increase the linear dynamic range to nine orders of magnitude using non-destructive read outs.