摘要 |
A mass spectrometer comprises an ion mobility separator 4, one or more devices or stages arranged upstream of the ion mobility separator (e.g. ion source 1 and ion trapping region 3), and a control system 9 which monitors the operating environment within the ion mobility separator (e.g. a gas pressure or composition). The control system may control the operating environment based on the monitoring by controlling one or more gas flows to or within the first devices or stages. The control system may correct measurements made using the mass spectrometer based on the monitoring when the operating environment within the ion mobility separator changes due to changes in an operating environment within the first devices or stages. The operating environment of the ion mobility separator may be monitored indirectly, for example by monitoring an operating environment of one or more devices upstream or downstream of the ion mobility separator, or by monitoring one or more chambers coupled to the ion mobility separator. The invention may also be applicable to other separation devices e.g. mass separators. |