An ion-mobility spectrometer system includes a housing with an upstream end, a downstream end, and a drift region defined along a longitudinal axis through the housing between the upstream and downstream ends. A first ionizer is operatively connected the housing to supply ions at the upstream end. A second ionizer is operatively connected to the housing to supply ions at the upstream end, wherein the first and second ionizers are both situated upstream of the drift zone relative to an ion flow path through the drift zone. An electric field generator is operatively connected to the housing to drive ions through the drift zone in a direction from the upstream end toward the downstream end. The second ionizer is a radioactive ionizer mounted to the housing at the upstream end positioned to direct irradiated ions into the housing.

The invention relates to an ion mobility spectrometer (1) having an ionization chamber (13), with at least one ionization source (3) and at least one drift chamber (14) arranged downstream of the ionization chamber (13) in a desired drift direction (D) of the ions, wherein the ionization chamber (13) is connected to a feed duct (4) through which a sample gas to be analysed can be fed into the ionization chamber (13), characterized in that the ion mobility spectrometer (1) has a discharge duct (5) separate from the feed duct (4), which discharge duct is connected to the ionization chamber (13) and through which the sample gas can be discharged from the ionization chamber (13), wherein a) the ion mobility spectrometer (1) is configured to operate the ionization chamber (13) substantially field-free, at least during an ionization phase, and, in an injection phase, to move ions by means of an electric field out of the ionization chamber (13) into the drift chamber (14) and/or b) the ionization source (3) is designed as a pulse-controlled ionization source.

The invention relates to an ion mobility spectrometer (1) having an ionization chamber (13), with at least one ionization source (3) and at least one drift chamber (14) arranged downstream of the ionization chamber (13) in a desired drift direction (D) of the ions, wherein the ionization chamber (13) is connected to a feed duct (4) through which a sample gas to be analysed can be fed into the ionization chamber (13), characterized in that the ion mobility spectrometer (1) has a discharge duct (5) separate from the feed duct (4), which discharge duct is connected to the ionization chamber (13) and through which the sample gas can be discharged from the ionization chamber (13), wherein a) the ion mobility spectrometer (1) is configured to operate the ionization chamber (13) substantially field-free, at least during an ionization phase, and, in an injection phase, to move ions by means of an electric field out of the ionization chamber (13) into the drift chamber (14) and/or b) the ionization source (3) is designed as a pulse-controlled ionization source.

An ion confinement device (2) comprising: a plurality of electrodes arranged and configured for confining ions when an AC or RF voltage is applied thereto; and at least one inductive ballast (10a,10b), each ballast connected to at least some of said electrodes so as to form a resonator circuit therewith.

An ion confinement device (2) comprising: a plurality of electrodes arranged and configured for confining ions when an AC or RF voltage is applied thereto; and at least one inductive ballast (10a,10b), each ballast connected to at least some of said electrodes so as to form a resonator circuit therewith.

Techniques and apparatus for executing jobs for performing analytical methods are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to receive a job request from a data system to perform a job, and determine an acquisition system to perform the job, the acquisition system to determine at least one task for the job, provide the at least one task to a task sequencer to coordinate performance of the at least one task, and provide data artifacts to the data system resulting from performance of the at least one task. Other embodiments are described.

Techniques and apparatus for executing jobs for performing analytical methods are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to receive a job request from a data system to perform a job, and determine an acquisition system to perform the job, the acquisition system to determine at least one task for the job, provide the at least one task to a task sequencer to coordinate performance of the at least one task, and provide data artifacts to the data system resulting from performance of the at least one task. Other embodiments are described.

A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: a step (10) of analysing a reference compound in a first mass spectrometer and outputting mass spectral data in response thereto; a step (20) of analysing the reference compound in a second, different mass spectrometer and outputting mass spectral data in response thereto; and a step (30) of automatically adjusting an operational parameter, duty cycle (e.g. duty cycle of data acquisition), or acquired spectral data of at least one mass spectrometer such that, for the same (given) consumption of reference compound by the spectrometer, the statistical precision of quantification (the number of detected ions) and/or of mass measurement (the mass resolution) by the mass spectrometer is substantially the same as that of the other mass spectrometer. A similar method of ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed.

A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: a step (10) of analysing a reference compound in a first mass spectrometer and outputting mass spectral data in response thereto; a step (20) of analysing the reference compound in a second, different mass spectrometer and outputting mass spectral data in response thereto; and a step (30) of automatically adjusting an operational parameter, duty cycle (e.g. duty cycle of data acquisition), or acquired spectral data of at least one mass spectrometer such that, for the same (given) consumption of reference compound by the spectrometer, the statistical precision of quantification (the number of detected ions) and/or of mass measurement (the mass resolution) by the mass spectrometer is substantially the same as that of the other mass spectrometer. A similar method of ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for, in an ion guide (10), modulating a stream of ions according to a modulation function, wherein the stream of ions includes at least N different ion species, wherein N is at least 1. This ion guide (10) forms an ion guide path, wherein the ions of the stream of ions are conveyed along the ion guide path in a conveying direction to form the stream of ions. The ion guide (10) includes an ion gate (12) arranged at an ion gate position on the ion guide path, wherein the ion gate (12) is adapted to provide an open state for allowing the ions passing the ion gate position when being conveyed along the ion guide path and a closed state for preventing the ions from passing the ion gate position. The ion guide (10) further includes a first arrangement (13) of conveying electrodes (230) arranged along the ion guide path, the first arrangement (13) of conveying electrodes (230) extending over a first section of the ion guide path, wherein the first section of the ion guide path reaches from at least the ion gate position downstream to at least a transition position on the ion guide path, wherein the first arrangement (13) of conveying electrodes (230) is adapted for generating first travelling waves having a first travelling wave amplitude and travelling along the first section of the ion guide path at a first travelling wave velocity for conveying the ions along the first section of the ion guide path. Furthermore, the ion guide (10) includes a second arrangement (14) of conveying electrodes (240) arranged along the ion guide path, the second arrangement (14) of conveying electrodes (240) extending over a second section of the ion guide path, wherein the second section of the ion guide path reaches from the transition position downstream, wherein the second arrangement (14) of conveying electrodes (240) is adapted for generating second travelling waves having a second travelling wave amplitude and travelling along the second section of the ion guide path at a second travelling wave velocity for conveying the ions along the second section of the ion guide path. According to the method, the stream of ions is modulated with the ion gate (12) according to the modulation function and AC voltages are applied to the first arrangement (13) of conveying electrodes (230) for generating the first travelling waves and to the second arrangement (14) of conveying electrodes (240) for generating the second travelling waves for conveying the ions downstream of the ion gate (12<