Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a controller operable to: transfer first ions of a first charge into an ion trap; apply an RF pseudopotential that radially confines the first ions in an elongate ion channel of the trap; generate a first potential well that confines the first ions within a first volume; after a specified pre-cooling time, transfer second ions of a second, opposite charge into the trap; apply one or more additional DC potentials that generate a second potential well that confines the second ions within a second volume, the first potential well being within the second potential well; cause, after cooling the second ions, the first ions and the second ions to interact and generate product ions; and generate at least one third potential well that confines the product ions, that is adjacent to the second potential well and that has a same polarity as the first potential well.

Abstract: A method of analyzing molecules, comprising: generating ions from a sample of molecules; cooling the generated ions below ambient temperature; fragmenting at least some of the cooled ions by irradiating the ions with light at a plurality of different wavelengths (?) within one or more predetermined spectral intervals; recording a fragment mass spectrum of the fragmented ions comprising a detected signal (I) versus m/z over a predetermined range of m/z values for each of the plurality of different wavelengths (?), thereby recording a two-dimensional dependency of the detected signal (I) on m/z and irradiation wavelength (?); and determining from the recorded two-dimensional dependency an identity of at least one of the generated ions and/or relative abundances of different generated ions and thereby determining an identity of at least of one of the molecules and/or relative abundances of different molecules in the sample.

Abstract: A method of injecting ions into an ion storage device, comprising: providing an RF trapping field in the ion storage device that defines a trapping volume in the ion storage device by applying one or more RF voltages to one or more trapping electrodes; providing a gas in the trapping volume; injecting ions into the trapping volume through an aperture in an end electrode located at a first end of the ion storage device, the end electrode having a DC voltage applied thereto; reflecting the injected ions at a second end of the ion storage device, opposite to the first end, thereby returning the ions to the first end; and ramping the DC voltage applied to the end electrode during the period between injecting the ions through the aperture and the return of the ions to the first end, such that by the time the ions return to the first end for a first time a potential barrier is established by the ramped DC voltage that prevents returning ions from striking the end electrode.

Abstract: A gas transfer system for transferring gas into an analytical instrument for isotope ratio analysis comprises a capillary for delivering sample and/or reference gas from a gas source, a first connector for connecting the capillary to the gas source, a second connector for connecting the capillary to the analytical instrument, a crimping device, wherein the internal surface of the capillary comprises a coating material to prevent or minimize adsorption of water to the surface. Also provided is a device for regulating gas flow in a gas inlet system of an analytical instrument, comprising a body member having an internal gas flow channel, and a clamping member for attachment to the body member such that when the clamping member is tightened onto the body member, the internal gas flow channel is adjustably and reversibly crimped, to adjust gas flow therethrough.

Abstract: A data independent acquisition method of mass spectrometry for analyzing a sample within a mass range of interest as it elutes from a chromatography system. The method comprises selecting precursor ions within a mass range of interest to be analyzed, performing at least one MS1 scan of the precursor ions using a first, high-resolution mass analyzer and performing a set of MS2 scans by segmenting the precursor ions into a plurality of precursor mass segments, each precursor mass segment having a mass range of no greater than 5 amu, and for each precursor mass segment fragmenting the precursor ions within that precursor mass segment and performing an MS2 scan of the fragmented ions using a time of flight mass analyzer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a mass spectrometer vacuum interface, the vacuum interface comprising an evacuated expansion chamber downstream of a plasma ion source wherein the expansion chamber is pumped by an interface vacuum pump to provide an interface pressure in the chamber; the method comprising using a controller to automatically, or according to user input, control the throughput of the interface vacuum pump to control the interface pressure dependent on one or more operating modes of the spectrometer.

Abstract: An interface for receiving ions in a carrier gas from an atmospheric pressure ion source at a spectrometer that is configured to analyse the received ions at a lower pressure includes an interface vacuum chamber having a downstream aperture; a support assembly defining an axial bore arranged to allow a removable capillary tube to extend therethrough; ions being received from the atmospheric pressure ion source through the capillary tube and directed towards the downstream aperture; and a jet disruptor, positioned downstream from the axial bore and configured to disrupt gas flow between the axial bore and the downstream aperture only when the capillary tube is not fully inserted through the axial bore.

Abstract: A protection device for an Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES) and a method of protecting a detector to which purge gas is supplied, in an OES, are disclosed. The protection device comprises a timer, which measures a parameter, such as a humidity value, indicative of a shut down time period following cessation of application of purge gas to the detector. The protection device comprises a processor, which determines a start-up time period, based on the parameter, during which purge gas is supplied to the detector prior to cooling of the detector. The processor may selectively trigger commencing or maintaining application of purge gas to the detector or cooling of the detector in dependence on the parameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma sampling interface for an inductively coupled mass spectrometer, comprising a housing having entry and exit openings for respectively introducing and releasing ions from the chamber, and a sampler mounted on the housing so as to be disposed adjacent to plasma generated by an inductively coupled plasma source, wherein the entry opening is provided in a cooling plate that is integral to the housing and that is formed from bronze. Also disclosed is a bronze cooling plate for receiving and cooling a plasma sampler in an inductively coupled mass spectrometer, and a mass spectrometer that comprises a plasma sampling interface as disclosed.

Abstract: A data independent acquisition method of mass spectrometry for analysing a sample as it elutes from a chromatography system is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a precursor mass range, and performing a plurality of MS1 scans and sets of MS2 scans across the precursor mass range. Each of the MS1 scans uses a mass analyser operated at a first, relatively higher resolution, for identification and/or quantitation of the sample in the MS1 domain. The set of MS2 scans comprises performing MS2 scans of fragmented mass range segments performed with the mass analyser, operated at a second, relatively lower resolution. In the method, the MS1 scans are interleaved throughout the performing of the set of MS2 scans such that the MS1 scans provide a mass chromatogram of the sample. The ratio of the number of MS1 scans to sets of MS2 scans performed across the chromatographic peak width is at least 3:1.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer vacuum interface can include a skimmer apparatus having a skimmer aperture and an internal surface. A method of operating the mass spectrometer vacuum interface can include establishing an outwardly directed flow along the internal surface of the skimmer apparatus.

Abstract: A method of fragmenting ions comprises: injecting first ions of a first charge into an ion trap that includes an elongate multipole electrode assembly defining an elongate ion channel; radially confining the first ions within the ion channel by applying an RF pseudopotential to the electrode assembly and axially confining said ions to a first volume within the ion channel by applying a first potential well to the ion channel; injecting second ions of a second charge opposite to the first charge into the ion trap; axially confining the second ions to a second volume within the ion channel by applying a second potential well to the ion channel, the first potential well being within the second potential well; cooling the first and second ions in the ion trap; and allowing the ions to interact such that the first ions and/or second ions are fragmented to produce product ions.

Abstract: A liquid sample introduction system for a plasma spectrometer includes a sample container for holding a liquid sample, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulizer, arranged to receive a liquid sample from the sample container, an electronic controller for supplying electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to produce a surface acoustic wave on a surface of the SAW nebulizer, for generating an aerosol from the supplied sample liquid, and an aerosol transport arrangement for receiving the aerosol from the SAW nebulizer and carrying it into a plasma or flame of a spectrometer. The electronic controller is further configured to control the electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol parameters, and to control the aerosol transport arrangement so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol delivery into the plasma or flame of the spectrometer.

Abstract: A multi-reflection mass spectrometer comprising two ion mirrors spaced apart and opposing each other in a direction X, each mirror elongated generally along a drift direction Y, the drift direction Y being orthogonal to the direction X, a pulsed ion injector for injecting pulses of ions into the space between the ion mirrors, the ions entering the space at a non-zero inclination angle to the X direction, the ions thereby forming an ion beam that follows a zigzag ion path having N reflections between the ion mirrors in the direction X whilst drifting along the drift direction Y, a detector for detecting ions after completing the same number N of reflections between the ion mirrors, and an ion focusing arrangement at least partly located between the opposing ion mirrors and configured to provide focusing of the ion beam in the drift direction Y, such that a spatial spread of the ion beam in the drift direction Y passes through a single minimum at or immediately after a reflection having a number between 0.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for eliminating an added crosstalk signal from a measured data signal, which is generated by an image current. There is further disclosed a signal processing unit for carrying out the method. There is still further disclosed a mass spectrometer and a mass analyser comprising the signal processing unit for carrying out the method. There is yet still further disclosed a Fourier transform mass spectrometer configured to eliminate the added crosstalk signal from a measured data signal.

Abstract: The present invention can be directed to a mass spectrometer, relevant parts thereof like replacement kits or upgrading kits and/or mass spectrometry methods. A mass spectrometer according to the present invention can comprise at least one ion source for generating a beam of ions from a sample. Moreover at least one mass filter downstream of the ion source can be provided and adapted to select ions from the beam by their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Furthermore at least one collision cell arranged downstream of the mass filter can be arranged. At least one sector field mass analyser arranged downstream of the collision cell can be further provided and at least one ion multicollector comprising a plurality of ion detectors arranged downstream of the mass analyser, for detecting a plurality of different ion species in parallel and/or simultaneously.

Abstract: A method comprising decomposing mass spectrometry data, especially of ion species that undergo multiple direction changes in a periodic manner, the data comprising signal and noise measured over time, into a sum of K harmonic component signals and a noise component, wherein the harmonic component signals and their number K are derived from the data and a determined quantity representative of the noise. The harmonic component signals and their number K may be determined iteratively on the basis of: using an initial value of K to calculate a minimised non-negative measure of difference R(K) between the measured and model data comprising data sets of K-harmonic component signals, and if R(K) does not lie within a noise range based on the quantity representative of the noise, changing the value of K and recalculating R(K) until R(K) lies within the noise range. Mass spectral information may be derived from the model data set.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ion supply system, having an ion source emitting ions into a fore vacuum chamber, an ion transport device having stacked electrodes arranged in the fore vacuum chamber, a control system supplying an oscillatory voltage to the electrodes of the ion transport device and a vacuum chamber, arranged downstream from the ion transport device. A vacuum gauge is arranged in the vacuum chamber. The pressure signal of the vacuum gauge is supplied to the control system supplying the oscillatory voltage to electrodes of the ion transport device. The control system adjusts the amplitude of the oscillatory voltage in accordance with the pressure signal.

Abstract: A flexible, foldable light-weight gas chromatography transfer line suitable for connecting a gas chromatograph (GC) to a spectrometer, such as a mass spectrometer or optical spectrometer, in particular to the ion source of the spectrometer, such as an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ion source. The transfer line has a heating arrangement that allows maintaining an even temperature profile, which improves quality of spectra. The transfer line has low thermal mass and the heating can be controlled with the control unit of the GC.

Abstract: A system and method of mass spectrometry is provided. Ions from an ion source are stored in a first ion storage device and in a second ion storage device. Ions are ejected from the first ion storage device to a first mass analysis device during a first ejection time period, for analysis during a first analysis time period. Ions are ejected from the second ion storage device to a second mass analysis device during a second ejection time period. The ion storage devices are connected in series such that an ion transport aperture of the first ion storage device is in communication with an ion transport aperture of the second ion storage device. The first analysis time period and the second ejection time period at least partly overlap.