A mass spectrometer adopting a configuration of a multi-stage differential evacuation system appropriately performs optimization of a direct-current voltage applied to a plurality of ion optical elements for transporting ions. An auto-tuning controller acquires intensity data of ions derived from a predetermined component while changing a direct-current voltage applied to ion guides and the like, and searches for a direct-current voltage at which the intensity is maximized. When the direct-current voltage applied to a certain ion optical element is changed at the time of automatic adjustment, the direct-current voltage applied to all the ion optical elements thereafter is also changed by the same amount. Since the direct-current voltage difference between two adjacent ion optical elements always changes at only one point, the direct-current potential difference can be determined so as to optimize the ion passage efficiency.

Provided are methods for determining the amount of vitamin C in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing vitamin C in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of vitamin C in the sample.

A mass spectrometer includes a control system arranged to assess an operational state of the mass spectrometer. When a fault is detected, the control system assigns the fault to one of a plurality of categories, including a first category of faults which may be attempted to be rectified automatically by the mass spectrometer, a second category of faults which may be attempted to be rectified by the user, and a third category of faults which may only be attempted to be rectified by a service engineer. When a fault is assigned to the first category of faults, the control system initiates an attempt to automatically rectify the fault. When a fault is assigned to the second category of faults, the control system causes information relating to the fault to be displayed to the user, including data indicative of the fault and data one or more steps to be taken by the user to attempt to rectify the fault (2000). When a fault is assigned to the third category of faults, the control system causes information relating to the fault to be displayed to the user including data indicative of the fault, and an indication that the user should call a service engineer.

A device that performs MSn analysis including: a mass window group setting information input receiver that receives input of information concerning the number of mass window groups, the number of mass windows, and a mass-to-charge ratio width of each of the mass windows; a mass window group setter that sets a first mass window group and a second mass window group, in which a mass-to-charge ratio at a boundary of adjacent mass windows differs from a mass-to-charge ratio at a boundary of mass windows in the first mass window group; a product-ion scan measurement section that performs, for each of the first and second mass window groups, an operation of performing scan measurement of product ions by use of the plurality of mass windows in sequence to acquire pieces of product-ion scan data; and a product-ion spectrum generator that generate a product-ion spectrum by integrating pieces of product-ion scan data.

An apparatus for performing ambient ionisation mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substantially cylindrical, tubular, rod-shaped, coil-shaped, helical or spiral-shaped collision assembly; and a first device arranged and adapted to direct analyte, smoke, fumes, liquid, gas, surgical smoke, aerosol or vapour onto said collision assembly.

Provided is a mass spectrometer including: a measurement condition setter (42) configured to set a plurality of measurement conditions which are different from each other in terms of the set value of at least one measurement parameter; a measurement executer (43) configured to acquire a plurality of sets of mass spectrometric data respectively corresponding to the plurality of measurement conditions; a product ion extractor (44) configured to extract product ions detected with intensities exceeding a previously determined reference value; an MRM spectrum element information creator (45) configured to determine the mass-to-charge ratios and measured intensities of the extracted product ions, the mass-to-charge ratio of the precursor ion, as well as the measurement condition, and to create a plurality of pieces of MRM spectrum element information; an MRM spectrum composer (46) configured to compose an MRM spectrum from the mass-to-charge ratios and the measured intensities of the product ions included in the plurality of pieces of MRM spectrum element information; and a library data creator (47) configured to relate the MRM spectrum to information concerning the target compound to create library data for the target compound.

A method of mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed that comprises accumulating ions for a first period of time (T1) one or more times so as to form one or more first groups of ions, accumulating ions for a second period of time (T2) one or more times so as to form one or more second groups of ions, wherein the second period of time (T2) is less that the first period of time (T1), analysing the one or more first groups of ions to generate one or more first data sets, analysing the one or more second groups of ions to generate one or more second data sets, and determining whether the one or more first data sets comprise saturated and/or distorted data. If it is determined that the one or more first data sets comprise saturated and/or distorted data, then the method further comprises replacing the saturated and/or distorted data from the one or more first data sets with corresponding data from the one or more second data sets.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for performing multiple precursor, neutral loss and product ion scans in a single ion trap. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems including a mass spectrometer having a single ion trap, and a central processing unit (CPU), and storage coupled to the CPU for storing instructions that when executed by the CPU cause the system to apply at least one of the following ion scans to a single ion population in the single ion trap: multiple precursor ion scans, a plurality of segmented neutral loss scans, or multiple simultaneous neutral loss scans.

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining physical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target using a probe. The physical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then used to generate an aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.

A zircon ID-TIMDS Pb isotope determination method by multiple ion counters with a dynamic multi-collection protocol is provided. Compared with a commonly used multi-ion counter static determination method, the method provided by the present invention completely eliminates influences of gain differences of the different ion counters on determination results of Pb isotopes. Compared with a conventional single-ion counter determination method with five times of peak-jumps, the method provided by the present invention can obtain all of Pb isotope ratios with two times of peak-jumps, which increases the collection efficiency of Pb isotope ion beams and decreases influences of ion beam stability on Pb isotope analysis results. Consequently, compared with a multi-ion counter static method and a single-ion counter peak-jumping method, the method provided by the present invention improves the Pb isotope analysis precision for the single-grain zircon ID-TIMS U—Pb dating method (with a .sup.205Pb tracer), having application potentials.