Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: Control circuitry for stabilizing a DC voltage outputted by a DC power supply against changes in ambient temperature. The control circuitry includes: measurement circuitry configured to output a measurement voltage representative of a DC voltage outputted by a DC power supply; reference circuitry configured to output a reference voltage; and comparison circuitry configured to compare the measurement voltage with the reference voltage and, based on the comparison, output a control signal for controlling the DC voltage outputted by the DC power supply. At least one temperature-sensitive component of the control circuitry is located in an enclosure configured to maintain a substantially constant temperature within the enclosure.

Abstract: Control circuitry for stabilising a DC voltage outputted by a DC power supply against changes in ambient temperature. The control circuitry includes: measurement circuitry configured to output a measurement voltage representative of a DC voltage outputted by a DC power supply; reference circuitry configured to output a reference voltage; and comparison circuitry configured to compare the measurement voltage with the reference voltage and, based on the comparison, output a control signal for controlling the DC voltage outputted by the DC power supply. At least one temperature-sensitive component of the control circuitry is located in an enclosure configured to maintain a substantially constant temperature within the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.

Abstract: Charged particle energy analysers enabling simultaneous high transmission and energy resolution are described. The analysers have an electrode structure (11) comprising coaxial inner and outer electrodes (14, 15) having inner and outer electrode surfaces (IS, OS) respectively. The inner and outer electrode surfaces are defined, at least in part, by spheroidal surfaces having meridonal planes of symmetry orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the electrode structure (11). The inner and outer electrode surfaces are generated by rotation, about the longitudinal axis, of arcs of two non-concentric circles having different radii R2 and R1 respectively, R2 being greater than R1. The distance of the outer electrode surface from the longitudinal axis in the respective meridonal plane is R01 and the distance of the inner electrode surface from the longitudinal axis in the respective plane is R02 and R1, R2, R01 and R02 have a defined relationship.

Abstract: A method for obtaining high accuracy mass spectra using an ion trap mass analyzer includes adjusting operating parameters of the analyser to enable a reverse mass scan in a mass selective resonance ejection mode and setting the trapping field to trap ions in a mass-to-charge ratio which has a lower limit close to the mass-to-charge ratio of an ion of interest. A method of determining chemical shift includes adjusting operating parameters of the analyzer to enable forward and reverse mass scans and calibrating the spectra obtained from the forward and reverse mass scans.

Abstract: A method of trapping ions using a quadrupole ion trap device includes applying quadrupole excitation to trapped precursor ions causing them to be driven into the ring electrode where they undergo surface induced dissociation. The resultant product ions are then trapped within the ion trap device.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring decay in intensity of electromagnetic radiation passing through a radiation-absorbent sample due to absorption of radiation by the sample is disclosed which includes a source of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within an absorption band of the sample and a plurality of partially-reflective specular surfaces which are spaced apart from each other along a predetermined path through the sample, each specular surface separating the incident radiation into a reflected part which follows the predetermined path and an unreflected path, the value of the decay being derived from intensity measurements of the unreflected parts made at different positions along the predetermined path.

Abstract: A method for ejecting ions from a quadrupole ion trap includes creating a digital control signal, using the digital control signal to control the timing of a switch unit to generate a time-varying rectangular wave voltage, supplying the rectangular wave voltage to the ion trap to trap ions in a predetermined range of mass-to-charge ratio, and varying the duty cycle of every nth wave of the rectangular wave voltage (where n is an integer greater than 1) to cause ejection of ions having a predetermined mass-to-charge ratio. The method can be used for analysis of mass-to-charge ratio by adjusting the frequency of the rectangular wave voltage to select a starting point for scanning mass-to-charge ratio, and then varying the frequency while the duty cycle is being varied to cause ejection of trapped ions, in sequence, according to mass-to-charge ratio.

Abstract: A quadrupole ion trap device has a field adjusting electrode located outside the trapping region adjacent the aperture in the entrance end cap electrode, and optionally adjacent the aperture in the exit end cap electrode. The field adjusting electrode(s) controls field distortion in the vicinity of the apertures. By appropriately setting the voltages on the field adjusting electrodes the efficiency and resolution of operational processes such as ion introduction, precursor ion isolation and mass scanning can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus having a radio frequency resonator, which has a coil, a capacitor means and at least one switch means being associated with another capacitor means, a resistor means and a high voltage supply means, one end of the switch means being connected to a junction of the coil and the capacitor means where a radio frequency voltage is provided, another end of the switch means being connected to ground with said another capacitor means and to the high voltage power supply means with the resistor means.

Abstract: A charged particle energy analyzer (FIG. 1) comprises a source of electrons 1 and inner and outer cylinders (2,3) arranged concentrically about a longitudinal axis (z—z). Electrical potential applied to the outer cylinder (3) creates an electrostatic field between the cylinders (2,3) defined by equipotentials which are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis z—z and increase linearly in the longitudinal direction and logarithmically in the radial direction. Electrons having different energies are focused by the electrostatic field at discrete positions spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. Also described is a charged particle energy analyzer (FIG. 6) in which electrons having different energies are fcoused by the electrostatic field at discrete positions at a surface transverse to the longitudinal axis. Both analysers may operate in the second-order focusing mode.

Abstract: A magnetic immersion lens has inner and outer pole-pieces arranged symmetrically about a longitudinal axis X-X of the lens, the inner pole piece having a through-bore and the lens producing a magnetic imaging field for directing along the through-bore secondary electrons emitted from a specimen positioned in front of the inner pole-piece. The lens has an axially-symmetric detection arrangement located within the through-bore.