Controlling ion populations in a mass analyzer having a pulsed ion source

摘要

A mass spectrometer is operated by generating a test packet of ions from a pulsed ion source. A population of ions derived from the test packet of ions is detected. A number of ionization events of the pulsed ion source is determined that will be required to provide an analysis packet of ions expected to have a desired population of ions. An analysis packet of ions is produced by accumulating ions for the determined number of ionization events.