An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.

An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.

An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.

A method of mass spectral analysis in an analytical electrostatic trap (14) is disclosed. The electrostatic trap (14) defines an electrostatic field volume and includes trap electrodes having static and non-ramped potentials. The method comprises injecting a continuous ion beam into the electrostatic field volume.

A mass spectrometer including an ion source, an ion guide, a pulsed converter, and an electrostatic analyzer is disclosed, along with a method of mass spectrometry and an ion injector. The ion source generates ions, such as ions within a continuous or a quasi-continuous ion beam. The ion guide receives a portion of the ions generated by the ion source. The pulsed converter, which receives ions from the ion guide, includes at least one electrode connected to a RF signal. The pulsed converter may include a means for ejecting the ions in the form of ion packets. The electrostatic analyzer forms a two-dimensional electrostatic field in an X-Y plane. The electrostatic field is substantially extended in a Z-direction that is locally orthogonal to the X-Y plane and may be curved or linear. Ions undergo isochronous ion oscillations in the electrostatic field. The pulsed converter and electrostatic analyzer are Z-directionally elongated.

A mass analyser comprises a pair of electrode arrays. Each array has a set of focusing electrodes which are supplied, in use, with voltage to create an electrostatic field in a space between the electrode arrays causing ions to undergo periodic, oscillatory motion in the space, ions passing between electrodes of the sets of focusing electrodes and being repeatedly focused at a center plane, mid-way between the electrode arrays. At least one electrode of each set of focusing electrodes has an electrode surface closer to the center plane than the electrode surfaces of other electrodes of the same set. The analyzer may be an ion trap mass analyser or a multi-turn ToF mass analyzer.

An electrostatic ion trap for mass analysis includes a first array of electrodes and a second array of electrodes, spaced from the first array of electrode. The first and second arrays of electrodes may be planar arrays formed by parallel strip electrodes or by concentric, circular or part-circular electrically conductive rings. The electrodes of the arrays are supplied with substantially the same pattern of voltage whereby the distribution of electrical potential in the space between the arrays is such as to reflect ions isochronously in a flight direction causing them to undergo periodic, oscillatory motion in the space, focused substantially mid-way between the arrays. Amplifier circuitry is used to detect image current having frequency components related to the mass-to-charge ratio of ions undergoing the periodic, oscillatory motion.

A multi-reflection mass spectrometer is provided comprising two ion-optical mirrors, each mirror elongated generally along a drift direction (Y), each mirror opposing the other in an X direction, the X direction being orthogonal to Y, characterized in that the mirrors are not a constant distance from each other in the X direction along at least a portion of their lengths in the drift direction. In use, ions are reflected from one opposing mirror to the other a plurality of times while drifting along the drift direction so as to follow a generally zigzag path within the mass spectrometer. The motion of ions along the drift direction is opposed by an electric field resulting from the non-constant distance of the mirrors from each other along at least a portion of their lengths in the drift direction that causes the ions to reverse their direction.

A novel MS-MS apparatus utilizing electrostatic traps is disclosed, along with an associated method of analysis. The apparatus may include a chromatograph, an ion source, a first mass spectrometer, a fragmentation cell, an ion guide, a pulsed converter, and a Z-directional elongated electrostatic trap. The electrostatic trap, which may be Z-elongated into a cylindrical electrostatic trap, includes at least one of an image current detector and a time-of-flight detector. The pulsed converter is Z-directionally elongated to match the electrostatic trap. Ion selection from electrostatic traps may be accomplished with an electrode that ejects ion from an oscillation space to a time-of-flight detector, a fragmentation surface, or a passage between E-trap regions.

An ion trap mass spectrometer including an ion trap analyzer, an ion packet injector, and an ion detector is disclosed, along with a method of mass spectrometry. The ion packet injector injects packets of ions into a field of the ion trap analyzer. The ion packets move along isochronous oscillations according to their mass-to-charge ration. The ion detector may be implemented as a novel image current detector, a novel time-of-flight detector, or a combination of the two. The novel image current detector may comprise segments along an X-axis or a Z-axis of the mass spectrometer. The novel time-of-flight detector may sample a portion of ions of the ion packet per each isochronous oscillation.