When a normal mass spectrometry is performed without dissociating an ion, the m/z range limitation voltage setting unit applies a radio-frequency voltage to each rod electrode of the quadrupole mass filter and controls the quadrupole voltage generator so as to apply a direct current voltage smaller than that at the time of ion selection for MS/MS spectrometry. When a small direct current voltage is applied, a mass scanning line is set so as to pass through a stability region on a Mathieu diagram over a long range, hence large m/z ions that do not fall within the stability region are blocked in the quadrupole mass filter. By adjusting a cut-off point on larger m/z side blocked in accordance with the measurement period of OA-TOFMS including the orthogonal accelerator, heavy ions that cause period delay are prevented from being introduced into the orthogonal accelerator.

A multipole rod set of an ion guide is adapted to receive a radial RF trapping voltage and a radial dipole direct current DC voltage. A lens electrode of the ion guide is positioned at one end of the multipole rod set to extract ions from the multipole rod set and adapted to receive an axial trapping AC voltage and a DC voltage. A radial dipole DC voltage is applied to the multipole rod set and an axial trapping AC voltage is simultaneously applied to a lens electrode in order to extract a bandpass mass range of ions trapped in the multipole rod set. Alternatively, a radial RF trapping voltage amplitude is applied to the multipole rod set and an axial trapping AC voltage is simultaneously applied to the lens electrode in order to extract a bandpass mass range of ions trapped in the multipole rod set.

A micro-fabricated device for controlling trapped ions includes a substrate of a dielectric material or a semiconductor material. A structured electrode layer is disposed above the substrate. The structured electrode layer forms a plurality of electrodes of an ion trap configured to trap ions in a space above the structured electrode layer. The structured electrode layer includes a low phonon density of states layer, referred to as low-PDOS layer, the low-PDOS layer being of TiN or TiW or Ti or W and having a thickness of equal to or greater than 100 nm.

A method of operating a quadrupole device (10) is disclosed. The quadrupole device (10) is operated in a mode of operation by applying a repeating voltage waveform comprising a main drive voltage and at least one auxiliary drive voltage is applied to the quadrupole device to the quadrupole device (10). The intensity of ions passing into the quadrupole device is varied with time in synchronisation with the repeating voltage waveform. This may be done such that the number of ions per unit phase which initially experience a phase within a first range of phases of the repeating voltage waveform is greater than the number of ions per unit phase which initially experience a phase within a second range of phases of the repeating voltage waveform.

An ion optical device includes one or more pairs of confinement electrode units arranged at two sides of a first direction; a power supply device for applying opposite radio-frequency voltages to the paired confinement electrode units respectively and forming thereon DC potentials distributed in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to form a potential barrier herein over a length portion of the first direction; one first area and one second area positioned at two sides of the potential barrier in the second direction; and a control device connected with the power supply device for controlling an output to change the potential barrier to manipulate the ions transported/stored in the first area being transferred to the second area through the potential barrier in ways based on the mass to charge ratio or mobility of the ions and continue being transported along the first direction.

A mass spectrometry apparatus includes an ion source configured to generate ions; an ion guide configured to guide ions from the ion source towards a detector; the ion detector configured to detect ions; and a mass spectrometry controller. The mass spectrometry controller is configured to generate a tune curve for the ion guide; determine an observed low mass cutoff for the ion guide from the tune curve; calculate an effective r0 for the ion guide based on the observed low mass cutoff; determine an RF voltage based on the effective r0; apply the RF voltage to the ion guide; and perform a mass analysis of ions in a sample.

A mass spectrometry apparatus includes an ion source configured to generate ions; an ion guide configured to guide ions from the ion source towards a detector; the ion detector configured to detect ions; and a mass spectrometry controller. The mass spectrometry controller is configured to generate a tune curve for the ion guide; determine an observed low mass cutoff for the ion guide from the tune curve; calculate an effective r0 for the ion guide based on the observed low mass cutoff; determine an RF voltage based on the effective r0; apply the RF voltage to the ion guide; and perform a mass analysis of ions in a sample.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for separating ions at about or above atmospheric pressure. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems that include an ionization source that generates ions and an ion trap. The ion trap is maintained at about or above atmospheric pressure and includes a plurality of electrodes and at least one inlet configured to receive a gas flow and at least one outlet. The system is configured such that a combination of a gas flow and one or more electric fields produced by the electrodes separates the ions based on mass-to-charge ratio and sends the separated ions through the at least one outlet of the ion trap.

A novel method and mass spectrometer apparatus is introduced to enable collision induced dissociation inside linear ion traps/guides or 3D ion traps based on digital waveform manipulation. In particular, using the device's digitally produced trapping waveforms to trap, isolate and energize the ions of interest creates a simplified and versatile ion trap/guide that is capable tandem mass spectrometry and high sensitivity. Coupling the digitally operated ion trap/guides to a TOF creates a Q-TOF instrument that outperforms any commercial system in terms of sensitivity and capabilities.

A method of operating a quadrupole device (10) is disclosed. A voltage source (12) applies a main quadrupolar voltage, an auxiliary quadrupolar voltage and a dipolar voltage to the quadrupole device (10). This may be done such that only ions corresponding to a single X-band, X-band-like, Y-band or Y-band-like stability region are transmitted by the quadrupole device (10).