Mass spectrometer

摘要

A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein ions from a pulsed ion source 10,11 are dispersed in a drift region 16 so that the ions become separated according to their mass to charge ratios. The ions are then received by an ion guide 1 in which multiple trapping regions are created and wherein the multiple trapping regions are translated along the length of the ion guide 1. The ion guide 1 receives the ions so that all the ions trapped in a particular trapping region have substantially the same or similar mass to charge ratios. The ions are released from the exit of the ion guide 1 and the pusher/puller electrode 14 of an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser is arranged to be energised in synchronisation with the ions emerging from the ion guide 1. The trapping regions may be translated along the ion guide 1 with a velocity which becomes progressively slower and the delay time of the pusher/puller electrode 14 may be progressively increased. <IMAGE>