High voltage amplifier

In typical ion trap experiments, two or more electrodes are drive by sine waves. Their amplitude and frequency determine the atomic mass (amu) of the particles to be trapped. Thus, by sweeping one of those two parameters, a continuous mass-to-charge ratio of the sample can be obtained. Frequency sweep is preferred because in the voltage sweep, the higher the mass measured, the less resolution one gets. Frequency sweeps are limited by the signal generators available. For heavier organic molecules, peak-to-peak voltages as high as 1000 volts and frequencies up to 100 kHz are desirable. Unfortunately there are not too many instruments that can fulfill this task. This paper describes the design, construction and testing of a high voltage amplifier created specifically for this kind of experiment The outcome is a general purpose amplifier that can deliver up to 100 mA of current at 1000 V peak-to-peak, from DC to 100 kHz.