Mass spectrometer

摘要

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first ion trap or ion guide (2), a single ion mobility spectrometer or separator stage (3) and a second ion trap or ion guide (4) arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator (3). In a mode of operation ions from the second ion trap or ion guide (4) are passed from the second ion trap or ion guide back upstream to the ion mobility spectrometer or separator (3).

主权项

1. A mass spectrometer comprising:
a first ion trap or ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes; a device for separating ions according to their ion mobility or rate of change of ion mobility with electric field strength, said device being arranged downstream of said first ion trap or ion guide; first transient DC voltage means arranged and adapted to apply one or more transient DC voltages or one or more transient DC voltage waveforms to electrodes forming said device; and a second ion trap or ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged downstream of said device, wherein said second ion trap or ion guide is arranged and adapted to receive a beam or group of ions and to partition said beam or group of ions such that a plurality of separate packets of ions are confined in said second ion trap or ion guide at any particular time, wherein each packet of ions is separately confined in a separate axial potential well formed within said second ion trap or ion guide and wherein said second ion trap or ion guide is arranged and adapted in a mode of operation to pass or transmit ions from said second ion trap or ion guide to said device.