A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a system control module (1715) for controlling the operation of the mass spectrometer. The system control module (1715) comprises one or more functional modules, each functional module being operable to perform a predetermined function of the mass spectrometer. The system control module (1715) and/or one or more functional modules are operable to communicate non-time information with each other using a time code of a communications protocol.

A method of performing time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry on a sample includes the step of directing a beam of primary ions to the sample, and stimulating the migration of ions within the sample while the beam of primary ions is directed at the sample. The stimulation of the ions is cycled between a stimulation state and a lower stimulation state. Secondary ions emitted from the sample by the beam of primary ions are collected in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry is then performed on the secondary ions. A system for performing time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry on a sample is also disclosed.

A mass spectrometer includes an ion trap, which has an interior for storing ions, a signal generator, which is connected to an electrode of the ion trap, which delimits the interior, for coupling in a voltage signal, in particular a radiofrequency voltage signal, and an ionization device for ionizing a gas to be ionized and supplied to the interior. The ionization device is connected to the signal generator in order to use the voltage signal (U.sub.RF, U.sub.Stim1, U.sub.stim2) of the signal generator, which is coupled into the electrode, for generating ions.

A positive high voltage, a first terminal of a semiconductor element, and a first terminal of a first resistance element are connected to a first terminal of a first current controller. A current input terminal of a first active element is connected to a second terminal of the first current controller, and a second terminal of the semiconductor element and a second terminal of the first resistance element are connected to a control terminal of the first active element. A second resistance element is connected between a current output terminal and a control terminal of the first active element. The first current controller allows a drive current corresponding to an input signal to flow in the first active element and allows the drive current output from the first active element to flow into a load, thereby generating an output voltage.

In one embodiment, a power source for providing high-voltage radio-frequency (RF) energy to an instrument such as a mass spectrometer includes an RF power amplifier having an output, an oscillating RF signal generator configured to provide first and second RF signals respectively oscillating at first and second frequencies to the RF power amplifier, and a step-up circuit for magnifying the RF power amplifier output. The step-up circuit includes an LC resonator network tuned to the first and second frequencies, and an output for providing the magnified voltage to a rod assembly of the mass spectrometer.

A device includes a first surface, a second surface and a controller. The second surface is adjacent to the first surface. The first and the second surfaces define a first ion channel therebetween. The first ion channel extends along a first direction. The second surface includes a first plurality of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along a second direction lateral to the first direction. The first plurality of electrodes extends along the first direction. The first electrode is configured to receive a first voltage signal and generate at least a portion of a pseudopotential that inhibits ions in the first ion channel from approaching the second surface. The second plurality of electrodes is located between the first electrode and the second electrode and arranged along the first direction. The second plurality of electrodes are configured to receive a second voltage signal to generate a first traveling drive potential that travels along the first direction. The first traveling drive potential is configured to guide ions along the first ion channel. The device further includes a controller electrically coupled to the first and the second surface. The controller is configured to generate the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.

Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole based on an amplifier RF input signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can generate a digital representation of the RF signal. A controller circuit can receive the digital representation and adjust an amplitude of the amplifier RF input signal based on differences between an amplitude of a fundamental frequency of the RF signal being different than an expected amplitude.

A conversion circuit is arranged for converting an ion detection current (i.sub.D) produced by an ion detector into an ion detection signal (P). The conversion circuit comprises: an input stage for converting the ion detection current (i.sub.D) into an ion detection voltage (V.sub.D), an output stage for converting the ion detection voltage into the detection signal (P), the output stage being arranged for drawing a first current dependent on the ion detection voltage, and a supplementary stage for providing a second current (i.sub.S) dependent on the ion detection voltage to the output stage.

The second current may be substantially equal to the first current.

A mass selective ion trapping device includes a linear ion trap and a RF control circuitry. The ion trap includes a plurality of trap electrodes configured for generating a quadrupolar trapping field in a trap interior and for mass selective ejection of ions from the trap interior. The RF control circuitry is configured to apply a balanced AC voltage to the trap electrodes during a first period of time such that an AC voltage applied to a first pair of trap electrodes is of the same magnitude and of opposite sign to an AC voltage applied to a second pair of trap electrodes; apply unbalanced RF voltage to the second pair of trap electrodes during a second period of time; ramp the balanced AC voltage down and the unbalanced RF voltage up during a transition period; and eject ions from the linear ion trap after the second period of time.

An ion optical arrangement (1) for use in a mass spectrometer comprises electrodes (11, 12, 14) comprising a multipole arrangement defining an ion optical axis, and a voltage source for providing voltages to the electrodes to produce electric fields. The ion optical arrangement is configured for producing a radio frequency electric focusing field for focusing ions on the ion optical axis. The radio frequency electric focusing field has a varying frequency so as to reduce any mass dependence of ion trajectories through the ion optical arrangement. The ion optical arrangement may further be configured for producing a static electric field in response to a DC bias voltage applied to the multipole arrangement. A superimposed varying electric field may be produced by superimposing an AC voltage upon the DC bias voltage.