ABRIDGED MULTIPOLE STRUCTURE FOR THE TRANSPORT, SELECTION, TRAPPING AND ANALYSIS OF IONS IN A VACUUM SYSTEM

摘要

An abridged multipole structure for the transport and selection of ions along a central axis in a vacuum system is constructed from a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension. When a voltage is applied across the second dimension, an electrical potential is produced at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension. Two electrode structures can be arranged parallel to each other with the first dimension extending along the central axis or more electrodes structures can be arranged to form multipole structures with various polygonal cross sections. Additional embodiments can be used to excite ions into secular motion, inductively detect the ions, and thereby generate a mass spectrum.