An analyzer for separating ions according to their time of flight comprising two opposing ion mirrors abutting at a first plane, each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis, the outer field-defining electrode system surrounding the inner field-defining electrode system. The outer field-defining electrode system of one mirror comprises two sections, the sections abutting at a second plane, comprising a first section between the first plane and the second plane, and a second section adjacent to the first section. The first section has at least a portion which extends radially from the analyzer axis a greater extent than an adjacent portion of the second section at the second plane. The outer field-defining electrode system comprises an exit port and the analyzer comprises a detector located downstream of the exit port.

A Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising an annular ion guide having a longitudinal axis and comprising a first annular ion guide section and a second annular ion guide section. Ions are introduced into the first annular ion guide section so that the ions form substantially stable circular orbits within the first annular ion guide section about the longitudinal axis. An ion detector is disposed within the annular ion guide. Ions are orthogonally accelerated in a first axial direction from the first annular ion guide section into the second annular ion guide section. An axial DC potential is maintained along at least a portion of the second annular ion guide section so that the ions are reflected in a second axial direction which is substantially opposed to the first axial direction. The ions undergo multiple axial passes through the second annular ion guide section before being detected by the ion detector.

There is provided a method of decoding a first data set obtained from a time of flight (ToF) mass analyser operating according to an encoded frequency pulsing (EFP) scheme. The method comprises generating a mock data set based on a model set of ions taking account of the EFP pattern and the flight time distribution of the ions. The model set of ions is then iteratively updated using the first data set to determine a second, decoded data set.

An electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) array includes a plurality of ion mirrors and a plurality of elongated charge detection cylinders each defining an axial passageway centrally therethrough, the ion mirrors and the charge detection cylinders arranged relative to one another such that each charge detection cylinder is positioned between a different respective pair of the ion mirrors with the respective axial passageways of each coaxial with one another, wherein the axial passageways of the ELITs are not coaxial with one another, means for selectively directing at least one ion into each of the plurality of ELITs, and means for controlling each of the ion mirrors in a manner which causes the at least one ion in at least two of the ELITs to become trapped therein and to simultaneously oscillate back and forth between the respective ion mirrors each time passing through the respective charge detection cylinder.

An ion mirror (10) for use in a time of flight mass spectrometer (100) comprises a first conductor (20) for producing a quadratic field along a first axis (80), and a second conductor (30) for producing a quadratic field along a second axis (90), the axes (80, 90) being orthogonal.

Method and embodiments are provided for tandem mass spectrometer designed for extremely large charge throughput up to 1E+10 ion/sec. In one operation mode, the initial ion flow with wide m/z range is time separated in a trap array. The array ejects ions with a narrower momentarily m/z range. Ion flow is collected and confined in a wide bore ion channel at a limited time spread. The ion flow with narrow m/z range is then analyzed in a multi-reflecting TOF at frequent and time-encoded operation of the orthogonal accelerator, thus forming multiple non overlapping spectral segments. In another mode, time separated ions are subjected to fragmentation for comprehensive, all-mass MS-MS analysis. The momentarily ion flow at MR-TOF entrance is characterized by lower spectral population which allows efficient decoding of overlapping spectra. Those modes are combined with conventional spectrometer operation to improve the dynamic range. To provide practical solution, there are proposed multiple novel components comprising trap arrays, wide bore confining channels, resistive multipole, so as long life TOF detector.

To improve spatial and energy acceptance of multi-reflecting time-of-flight, open traps, and electrostatic trap analyzers, a novel ion mirror is disclosed. Incorporation of immersion lens between ion mirrors allows reaching the fifth order time per energy focusing simultaneously with the third order time per spatial focusing including energy-spatial cross terms. Preferably the analyzer has hollow cylindrical geometry for extended flight path. The time-of-flight analyzer preferably incorporates spatially modulated ion mirror field for isochronous ion focusing in the tangential direction.

A charge detection mass spectrometer includes an ion trap configured to store ions therein and to release stored ions therefrom, and an electrostatic linear ion trap (ELIT) array, in the form of at least two ELITs or ELIT regions each spaced apart from the ion trap, each ELIT or ELIT region including first and second ion mirrors and a charge detection cylinder positioned therebetween. The ion trap is controlled to release at least some of the stored ions to travel toward and into each of the ELITs or ELIT regions, and the first and second ion mirrors of each of the ELITs or ELIT regions is controlled in a manner which traps one or more ions traveling therein and causes the trapped ion(s) to oscillate back and forth between the first and second ion mirrors each time passing through and inducing a corresponding charge on the charge detection cylinder.

A first analytical instrument is configured to be controlled according to one or more first operating parameters; and controlling the configured first analytical instrument based on an estimated ion current obtained by: selecting at least one signal from stored data comprising a plurality of signals and a respective one or more second operating parameters associated with each of the plurality of signals, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals is representative of an ion current obtained using the first analytical instrument configured according to the respective associated one or more second operating parameters or using a second analytical instrument configured according to the respective associated one or more second operating parameters, and wherein the at least one signal is selected based on the one or more first operating parameters; and using the at least one selected signal to estimate the ion current.

The invention provides (a) a time-of-flight mass spectrometer with an acceleration region, a single-stage or multi-stage reflector, and an ion detector, further comprising an additional reflector whose potential has, at least in a subregion, a two-dimensional logarithmic potential component and a two-dimensional octopole potential component, and (b) methods for operating the time-of-flight mass spectrometer.