Compensation of large ion energy spreads by multigap grid reflectors in time-of-flight mass spectrometers

The problem of compensation of the initial ion energy spread by a multigap grid reflector of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer is considered. It is shown mathematically that the problem can be reduced to analysis of properties of catastrophes $A_n$ under additional conditions of positive geometrical gaps of the reflector. Examples of design of reflectors corresponding to catastrophes $A_2$ and $A_3$ are analyzed. The advantage of a three-gap reflector over a two-gap reflector in the compensation of a large energy spread of ions for the same value of the resolution of the device is demonstrated. The application of the three-gap reflector improves the sensitivity of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The results of calculations are confirmed experimentally.