An orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes: a first vacuum chamber and a second vacuum chamber; an insulating spacer member; a former-stage-side ring electrode; subsequent-stage-side ring electrodes; a first fixation member including a first displacement member to displace a central axis of the former-stage-side ring electrode and the subsequent-stage-side ring electrodes in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the central axis by thermal expansion; and a second fixation member including a second displacement member to displace the central axis in the predetermined direction orthogonal to the central axis by thermal expansion, a difference between a thermal expansion amount of the first displacement member per unit temperature and a thermal expansion amount of the second displacement member per unit temperature being 30% or less of the thermal expansion amount of the first displacement member.

In a TOFMS measurement unit, an ion acceleration section accelerates ions to send them into a flight space, within which a flight-field creation section creates, an electric field for causing ions to fly. A controller unit operates the measurement unit so as to repeat a measurement for a predetermined sample while varying a voltage applied to an electrode in the measurement unit, and calculates mass-resolving power based on each measurement result. An approximate function calculator unit finds an approximate function representing a relationship between the voltage and the mass-resolving power, based on data of combinations of the voltage and the mass-resolving power obtained under the control of the controller unit. A voltage determiner unit determines a voltage value corresponding to a target value of the mass-resolving power by the approximate function, and determines the voltage value as a voltage to be applied to the electrode in the TOFMS concerned.

Provided is a TOFMS having a measurement unit in which target ions are accelerated and sent into a flight space within which an electric field for causing ions to fly is created. A data-analysis processor (33) creates a spectrum based on data acquired by the measurement unit, where the spectrum shows a relationship between ion intensity and time-of-flight or m/z value. An index calculator (34) calculates, as an index concerning a peak in the spectrum, a time-of-flight or m/z-value difference between a midpoint of a first peak width at an intensity which equals the peak-top intensity multiplied by a first ratio and a midpoint of a second peak width at an intensity which equals the peak-top intensity multiplied by a second ratio smaller than the first ratio. An evaluation result storage section (35) evaluates the peak symmetry from the index and stores an evaluation result.

A device (1) for manipulating charged particles, the device comprising a series of electrodes (2, 3) disposed so as to form a channel for transportation of the charged particles. A power supply unit (5) provides a first supply voltage (7) which changes according to a waveform having a period (T), to axially segmented bunching electrodes (3) to create an electric field within the channel. The potential of the electric field defines a potential well which is translated along the length of the channel such that the potential well is translated a distance substantially equal to its length in an interval of time substantially equal to the period (T). The waveform is substantially continuously smooth throughout its period (T); and, substantially constant in value throughout a finite duration of time (T.sub.L<T) within the period (T), corresponding to a minimum of the waveform. A power supply unit (6) provides a second supply voltage (8) to radial confinement electrodes (2) to create a radially confining electric field within the channel configured to radially confine charged particles within the channel.

A time-of-flight mass spectrometry device includes: an ion introduction unit; a vacuum chamber connected to the ion introduction unit; a support member provided inside the vacuum chamber; a flight tube having a part of the outer surface supported by the support member and provided inside the vacuum chamber; a temperature sensor provided in the vicinity of a connection portion with the support member of the vacuum chamber; a temperature adjustment element provided in the vicinity of the connection portion; and a temperature control unit that controls the temperature adjustment element based on a measurement result of the temperature sensor.

A method for operating scientific analytical equipment such as mass spectrometers for the purpose of improving the performance and/or service life. Such method may include: providing an ion stream comprising ions having a range of masses, separating the ions of the ion stream on the basis of mass, and controlling the timing and/or order of impact of the separated ions on an electron emissive surface of the ion detector so as to modify one or more parameters of the ion detector.

A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF MS) comprises a mass analyzer, an ion pushing device, a filtering device, a multi-pass reflector, a detector, and a decoder. The ion pushing device is arranged to push ions into the mass analyzer. The filtering device is arranged to filter a portion of the ions based on a mass range of the ions. The multi-pass reflector is arranged to selectively reflect the ions for further passes through the mass analyzer. The detector is arranged to receive the ions. The decoder is arranged to reconstruct a mass spectrum for the entire mass range of the ions.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.

A Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising: at least one ion mirror 34 for reflecting ions; an ion detector 36 arranged for detecting the reflected ions; a first pulsed ion accelerator 30 for accelerating an ion packet in a first dimension (Y-dimension) towards the ion detector 36 so that the ion packet spatially converges in the first dimension as it travels to the detector 36; and a pulsed orthogonal accelerator 32 for orthogonally accelerating the ion packet in a second, orthogonal dimension (X-dimension) into one of said at least one ion mirrors 34.

A drive unit for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The drive unit includes a power converter comprising a switching element and pulsing circuitry that can form output pulses suitable for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer. The drive unit also includes a controller that is configured to synchronise operation of the switching element with the pulsing circuitry.