摘要 |
<p>An ion separator is operable in a first mode to separate ions temporally according to their ion mobility (IMS) by applying a transient DC or AC/RF electric field 4 along the separator at a first velocity. The device is also operable in a second mode wherein ions are separated temporally according to their mass to charge (m/z) ratio by applying a transient DC or AC/RF electric field along the separator at a second, faster velocity. A neutral buffer gas 5 is caused to flow in a direction opposing the velocity of the electric field, during both modes of operation. The device may be switched between modes during a single experimental run, and may feed into an ion analyser, which may be a time of flight analyser, and which may be synchronised with ions output from the separator. An ion filter is presented which filters ions according to a particular property, such as m/z ratio or mobility, in dependence on a transient DC or AC/RF field and a gas flow which is not orthogonal to the direction of the field.</p> |