Mass Spectrometric Analysis of the Electrospray Plume from an Externally Wetted Tungsten Ribbon Emitter

Abstract

Angle-resolved mass spectrometry in conjunction with retarding potential energy analysis provides information on the mechanisms of ion field evaporation and spatial distributions of the emitted ions and droplets, the latter being of particular importance in the emitter array configuration. In the present study, we conduct mass spectrometric, retarding potential, and angular distribution measurements for ions. The angle resolved measurements indicate that the spray comprises a mixture of droplets and ions. At low extraction voltage the dominate ion intensity comprises a narrow distribution in the center of the spray, with additional intensity emitted at larger angles. The anionic species observed are with approximately equal intensity. At higher extraction energies a broader angular distribution is found, extending to 40 degree half-angles. The distribution is peaked at center of the spray. The total current and deposition measurements are consistent with the observation that the higher extraction voltage creates a larger flow rate than that produced from the lower extraction voltage, leading to emission that contains a larger fraction of droplets versus ions, and also produces droplets of a larger size.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA510231

Entities

People

  • Brian W Ticknor
  • Shawn W. Miller
  • Yu-hui Chiu

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Astronautics
  • Electrospray
  • Flow Rate
  • Geometry
  • Horizontal Orientation
  • Intensity
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Mass Spectra
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Measurement
  • Near Field
  • Physical Properties
  • Quartz Crystal Microbalances
  • Spacecraft
  • Spectrometry
  • Vertical Orientation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Plasma Physics.