A mass spectrometer which can be used to measure relative ion concentrations in a multi-ion component plasma has been designed for use in a strong (1–4-kG) uniform magnetic field. The spectrometer features an acceleration region which accelerates thermal ions through a series of three tantalum electrodes at a 30° angle to the B field, and a collection region in which ions are selectively collected, depending on the size of their gyroradii, by a cylindrical collector. Relative ion concentrations are determined from measurements of the collector current as a function of accelerating voltage. Results obtained using this instrument in a Q-machine device operated with a two-ion (Cs+/K+) component plasma are presented.
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Suszcynsky et al. (1988) studied this question.