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 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 tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. A quasi-continuous stream of ions from an ion source (20) and having a relatively broad range of mass to charge ratio ions is segmented temporally into a plurality of segments. Each segment is subjected to an independently selected degree of fragmentation, so that, for example, some segments of the broad mass range are fragmented whilst others are not. The resultant ion population, containing both precursor and fragment ions, is analyzed in a single acquisition cycle using a high resolution mass analyser (150). The technique allows the analysis of the initial ion population to be optimized for analytical limitations.

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 mass spectrometer comprises: an ion source that generates ions having an initial range of mass-to-charge ratios; an auxiliary ion detector, downstream from the ion source that receives a plurality of first ion samples derived from the ions generated by the ion source and determines a respective ion current measurement for each of the plurality of first ion samples; a mass analyzer, downstream from the ion source that receives a second ion sample derived from the ions generated by the ion source and to generate mass spectral data by mass analysis of the second ion sample; and an output stage that establishes an abundance measurement associated with at least some of the ions generated by the ion source based on the ion current measurements determined by the auxiliary ion detector.

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 determining the structure of a macromolecular assembly (MMA) comprises the steps of (a) generating precursor ions of an MMA species to be investigated; (b) transporting the MMA precursor ions to a fragmentation zone; (c) carrying out pulsed fragmentation of the MMA precursor ions in the fragmentation zone; (d) for a first plurality of MMA precursor ions, detecting both a spatial distribution of the resultant MMA fragment ions, and an m/z distribution of the MMA fragment ions; (e) analyzing the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions formed from the said first plurality of precursor ions of the MMA species to be investigated, to determine the relative positions of those fragment ions within the structure of the precursor MMA; and (f) reconstructing the three dimensional (3D) structure of the MMA from the analysis of the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions.

Abstract: A method of tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. A quasi-continuous stream of ions from an ion source (20) and having a relatively broad range of mass to charge ratio ions is segmented temporally into a plurality of segments. Each segment is subjected to an independently selected degree of fragmentation, so that, for example, some segments of the broad mass range are fragmented whilst others are not. The resultant ion population, containing both precursor and fragment ions, is analyzed in a single acquisition cycle using a high resolution mass analyser (150). The technique allows the analysis of the initial ion population to be optimized for analytical limitations.

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 tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. A quasi-continuous stream of ions from an ion source (20) and having a relatively broad range of mass to charge ratio ions is segmented temporally into a plurality of segments. Each segment is subjected to an independently selected degree of fragmentation, so that, for example, some segments of the broad mass range are fragmented while others are not. The resultant ion population, containing both precursor and fragment ions, is analyzed in a single acquisition cycle using a high resolution mass analyzer (150). The technique allows the analysis of the initial ion population to be optimized for analytical limitations.

Abstract: A method of determining the structure of a macromolecular assembly (MMA) comprises the steps of (a) generating precursor ions of an MMA species to be investigated; (b) transporting the MMA precursor ions to a fragmentation zone; (c) carrying out pulsed fragmentation of the MMA precursor ions in the fragmentation zone; (d) for a first plurality of MMA precursor ions, detecting both a spatial distribution of the resultant MMA fragment ions, and an m/z distribution of the MMA fragment ions; (e) analyzing the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions formed from the said first plurality of precursor ions of the MMA species to be investigated, to determine the relative positions of those fragment ions within the structure of the precursor MMA; and (f) reconstructing the three dimensional (3D) structure of the MMA from the analysis of the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions.

Abstract: A method for analyzing ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio and mass spectrometer for performing the method, comprising directing a collimated ion beam along an ion path from an ion source to an ion detector, causing a portion of the ion beam to contact one or more surfaces prior to reaching the ion detector, wherein the method comprises providing a coating on and/or heating the one or more surfaces to reduce variation in their surface patch potentials. The method is applicable to multi-reflection time-of-flight (MR TOF) mass spectrometry.

Abstract: An ion spectrometer is provided, comprising: an ion source, arranged to generate ions continuously with a first range of mass to charge ratios; and an ion trap, arranged to receive ions from the ion source along an axis, and to eject ions with a second range of mass to charge ratios orthogonally to that axis, the second range of mass to charge ratios being narrower than the first range of mass to charge ratios. In some embodiments, ions generated by the ion source continuously flow into the ion trap. Additionally or alternatively, ion optics receive ions ejected from the ion trap and cool the ions without substantial fragmentation. An ion analyser receives ions ejected from the ion trap or ion optics and separates the ions in accordance with at least one characteristic of the ions.

Abstract: A method of determining the structure of a macromolecular assembly (MMA) comprises the steps of (a) generating precursor ions of an MMA species to be investigated; (b) transporting the MMA precursor ions to a fragmentation zone; (c) carrying out pulsed fragmentation of the MMA precursor ions in the fragmentation zone; (d) for a first plurality of MMA precursor ions, detesting both a spatial distribution of the resultant MMA fragment ions, and an m/z distribution of the MMA fragment ions; (e) analyzing the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions formed from the said first plurality of precursor ions of the MMA species to be investigated, to determine the relative positions of those fragment ions within the structure of the precursor MMA; and (f) reconstructing the three dimensional (3D) structure of the MMA from the analysis of the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer comprises: an ion source that generates ions having an initial range of mass-to-charge ratios; an auxiliary ion detector, downstream from the ion source that receives a plurality of first ion samples derived from the ions generated by the ion source and determines a respective ion current measurement for each of the plurality of first ion samples; a mass analyser, downstream from the ion source that receives a second ion sample derived from the ions generated by the ion source and to generate mass spectral data by mass analysis of the second ion sample; and an output stage that establishes an abundance measurement associated with at least some of the ions generated by the ion source based on the ion current measurements determined by the auxiliary ion detector.

Abstract: A method of tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. A quasi-continuous stream of ions from an ion source (20) and having a relatively broad range of mass to charge ratio ions is segmented temporally into a plurality of segments. Each segment is subjected to an independently selected degree of fragmentation, so that, for example, some segments of the broad mass range are fragmented whilst others are not. The resultant ion population, containing both precursor and fragment ions, is analyzed in a single acquisition cycle using a high resolution mass analyser (150). The technique allows the analysis of the initial ion population to be optimized for analytical limitations.

Abstract: A method of determining the structure of a macromolecular assembly (MMA) comprises the steps of (a) generating precursor ions of an MMA species to be investigated; (b) transporting the MMA precursor ions to a fragmentation zone; (c) carrying out pulsed fragmentation of the MMA precursor ions in the fragmentation zone; (d) for a first plurality of MMA precursor ions, detesting both a spatial distribution of the resultant MMA fragment ions, and an m/z distribution of the MMA fragment ions; (e) analyzing the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions formed from the said first plurality of precursor ions of the MMA species to be investigated, to determine the relative positions of those fragment ions within the structure of the precursor MMA; and (f) reconstructing the three dimensional (3D) structure of the MMA from the analysis of the spatial and m/z distributions of fragment ions.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer comprises: an ion source that generates ions having an initial range of mass-to-charge ratios; an auxiliary ion detector, downstream from the ion source that receives a plurality of first ion samples derived from the ions generated by the ion source and determines a respective ion current measurement for each of the plurality of first ion samples; a mass analyzer, downstream from the ion source that receives a second ion sample derived from the ions generated by the ion source and to generate mass spectral data by mass analysis of the second ion sample; and an output stage that establishes an abundance measurement associated with at least some of the ions generated by the ion source based on the ion current measurements determined by the auxiliary ion detector.

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: An ion spectrometer is provided, comprising: an ion source, arranged to generate ions continuously with a first range of mass to charge ratios; and an ion trap, arranged to receive ions from the ion source along an axis, and to eject ions with a second range of mass to charge ratios orthogonally to that axis, the second range of mass to charge ratios being narrower than the first range of mass to charge ratios. In some embodiments, ions generated by the ion source continuously flow into the ion trap. Additionally or alternatively, ion optics receive ions ejected from the ion trap and cool the ions without substantial fragmentation. An ion analyser receives ions ejected from the ion trap or ion optics and separates the ions in accordance with at least one characteristic of the ions.