A multi-stage image charge detector made from printed circuit boards

We present the first reported instance of an image-charge detector for charged particles in which detection elements are patterned onto printed circuit boards. In contrast to conventional techniques involving separately machined and positioned segments of metal tubing, this technique is much simpler to assemble, align, and connect to electrical wiring, with no loss in sensitivity. The performance of single-stage and 5-stage charge detectors is demonstrated using electrospray-charged, micrometer-size polystyrene spheres. Both velocity and charge of each particle are measured. Multiple detection stages--which require no extra effort to pattern or setup compared with a single stage--result in an ensemble averaging effect, improving the detection limit over what can be achieved with a single-stage detector. A comparison is made between the printed circuit board detector and a conventional tubular charge detector and found to be statistically equivalent. These results demonstrate and illustrate that devices for detection, analysis, and/or manipulation of charged particles and ions can be made using printed circuit boards rather than using separately fabricated metal electrodes.