reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer

reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer

A device in the flight tube of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer which acts as an electro-static mirror. Ions with a range of kinetic energies from the ionisation source traverse the first portion of the flight tube and then spend different amounts of time in the reflectron. The net result is that the reflected ions come into focus at the detector, which is located at the end of the second part of the flight tube, leading to higher mass resolution.