| 摘要 |
A device and associated method are disclosed for interfacing an ion trap to a pulsed mass analyzer (such as a time-of-flight or similar analyzer) in a mass spectrometer. The device includes a plurality of separate confinement cells and structures (e.g., a set of segmented rod electrodes) for directing ions into a selected one of the confinement cells. Ions are ejected from the ion trap in a series of temporally successive ion packets. Each ion packet (which may consist of ions of like mass-to-charge ratio), is received by the ion interface device, optionally fragmented or reacted to form product ions, and then stored and cooled in the selected confinement cell. Storage and cooling of the ion packet occurs concurrently with the receipt and storage of at least one later-ejected ion packet. After a predetermined cooling period, the ion packet is released to the mass analyzer for acquisition of a mass spectrum. By providing concurrent cooling of multiple ion packets, each ion packet may be sufficiently cooled to enable high-resolution mass analysis without reducing ion trap scan speed. |
