| CPC H01J 49/4245 (2013.01) [G01N 27/623 (2021.01); H01J 49/022 (2013.01); H01J 49/025 (2013.01); H01J 49/426 (2013.01); H01J 49/482 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A charge detection mass spectrometer (CDMS), comprising:
an ion source configured to generate a beam of ions,
a mass spectrometer configured to separate the generated beam of ions as a function of ion mass-to-charge ratio to produce a resulting beam of separated ions,
an electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) including a pair of coaxially aligned ion mirrors and an elongated charge detection cylinder disposed therebetween and coaxially aligned therewith such that a longitudinal axis of the ELIT passes centrally through each, a first one of the pair of ions mirror defining an ion inlet aperture about the longitudinal axis through which the beam of separated ions enters the ELIT,
at least one voltage source operatively coupled to the pair of ion mirrors and configured to produce voltages for selectively establishing electric fields therein configured to trap within the ELIT a plurality of ions in the entering beam of separated ions and to cause the plurality of trapped ions to oscillate back and forth between the pair of ion mirrors each time passing through the charge detection cylinder, and
means for controlling a trajectory of the beam of separated ions entering the ion inlet aperture of the ELIT to cause the plurality of ions subsequently trapped within the ELIT to oscillate therein with a corresponding plurality of different planar ion oscillation trajectories angularly offset from one another about the longitudinal axis with each extending along the longitudinal axis and crossing the longitudinal axis in each of the pair of ion mirrors or a corresponding plurality of different cylindrical ion oscillation trajectories radially offset from one another about the longitudinal axis to form a plurality of nested cylindrical trajectories each extending along the longitudinal axis.
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