Abstract: A detection system and a method for detecting ions which have been separated in a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer, comprising an amplifying arrangement for converting ions into packets of secondary particles and amplifying the packets of secondary particles, wherein the amplifying arrangement is arranged so that each packet of secondary particles produces at least a first output and a second output separated in time and so that during the delay between producing the first and second output the first output produced by a packet of secondary particles is used for modulating the second output produced by the same packet. An increased dynamic range of detection and protection of the detection system against intense ion pulses is thereby provided.

Abstract: A method of switching between two modes of power supply to a mass analyser is provided. In a first mode of operation, operated for a first predefined time duration, a first power supply, coupled to the mass analyser, generates a first non-zero potential, whilst a second power supply, disconnected from the mass analyser, generates a second non-zero potential. In a second mode of operation, operated for a second predefined time duration, the second potential is coupled to the mass analyser, whilst the first power supply, disconnected from the mass analyser, generates the first potential. These predefined time durations are selected such that only one of: the first potential; and the second potential is coupled to the mass analyser at any time, and such that the first and second modes of operation are carried out at least once within a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) power supply in a mass spectrometer. The power supply provides an RF signal to electrodes of a storage device to create a trapping field. The RF field is usually collapsed prior to ion ejection. In an illustrative embodiment the RF power supply includes a RF signal supply; a coil arranged to receive the signal provided by the RF signal supply and to provide an output RF signal for supply to electrodes of an ion storage device; and a shunt including a switch operative to switch between a first open position and a second closed position in which the shunt shorts the coil output.

Abstract: A method of switching between two modes of power supply to a mass analyzer is provided. In a first mode of operation, operated for a first predefined time duration, a first power supply, coupled to the mass analyzer, generates a first nonzero potential, while a second power supply, disconnected from the mass analyzer, generates a second non-zero potential. In a second mode of operation, operated for a second predefined time duration, the second potential is coupled to the mass analyzer, while the first power supply, disconnected from the mass analyzer, generates the first potential. These predefined time durations are selected such that only one of: the first potential; and the second potential is coupled to the mass analyzer at any time, and such that the first and second modes of operation are carried out at least once within a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) power supply in a mass spectrometer. The power supply provides an RF signal to electrodes of a storage device to create a trapping field. The RF field is usually collapsed prior to ion ejection. In an illustrative embodiment the RF power supply includes a RF signal supply; a coil arranged to receive the signal provided by the RF signal supply and to provide an output RF signal for supply to electrodes of an ion storage device; and a shunt including a switch operative to switch between a first open position and a second closed position in which the shunt shorts the coil output.

Abstract: An RF transformer for supplying power as part of a tank circuit, comprising: a primary side, having at least one main winding and at least one shorting winding, the at least one main winding being configured to receive an RF input; a secondary side, having a first winding inductively coupled to the at least one main winding of the primary side and a second winding inductively coupled to the at least one shorting winding of the primary side; and a switching arrangement, adjustable between a first state in which the at least one shorting winding of the primary side is shorted and a second state in which the at least one shorting winding of the primary side is not shorted, such that the resonant frequency of the tank circuit is changed by adjusting between the first and second states.

Abstract: A mass analyzer comprises: an electrical field generator, providing a time-varying electric field for injection of ions to be analyzed, excitation of ions to be analyzed or both; first and second detection electrodes, each of which receives a respective voltage pickup due to the time-varying electric field and provides a respective detection signal based on a respective image current at the detection electrode; and a differential amplifier, providing an output based on the difference between the detection signal for the first detection electrode and the detection signal for the second detection electrode. It may also be provided that the electrical field generator comprises at least one field generating electrode without a spatially symmetrical counterpart and the capacitance between each field generating electrode and the first detection electrode is substantially the same as the capacitance between that field generating electrode and the second detection electrode.

Abstract: A mass analyser in which ions form packets that oscillate with a period has an ion detector comprising: a detection arrangement; and compensation circuitry. The detection arrangement may comprise: a plurality of detection electrodes detecting image current signals from ions in the mass analyser; and a preamplifier, providing an output based on the image current signals. The compensation circuitry provides a compensation signal to a respective compensatory part of the detection arrangement, based on one or more of the image current signals. A capacitance between each of the compensatory parts of the detection arrangement and a signal-carrying part of the detection arrangement affects the signal-to-noise ratio of the preamplifier output. A generator may provide a trapping field defining an ion trapping volume and a shielding conductor may be positioned between two detection electrodes, with a controller applying a voltage to the shielding conductor based on a detected image current.

Abstract: An RF transformer for supplying power as part of a tank circuit, comprising: a primary side, having at least one main winding and at least one shorting winding, the at least one main winding being configured to receive an RF input; a secondary side, having a first winding inductively coupled to the at least one main winding of the primary side and a second winding inductively coupled to the at least one shorting winding of the primary side; and a switching arrangement, adjustable between a first state in which the at least one shorting winding of the primary side is shorted and a second state in which the at least one shorting winding of the primary side is not shorted, such that the resonant frequency of the tank circuit is changed by adjusting between the first and second states.

Abstract: A mass analyser comprises: an electrical field generator, providing a time-varying electric field for injection of ions to be analysed, excitation of ions to be analysed or both; first and second detection electrodes, each of which receives a respective voltage pickup due to the time-varying electric field and provides a respective detection signal based on a respective image current at the detection electrode; and a differential amplifier, providing an output based on the difference between the detection signal for the first detection electrode and the detection signal for the second detection electrode. It may also be provided that the electrical field generator comprises at least one field generating electrode without a spatially symmetrical counterpart and the capacitance between each field generating electrode and the first detection electrode is substantially the same as the capacitance between that field generating electrode and the second detection electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) power supply in a mass spectrometer. The power supply provides an RF signal to electrodes of a storage device to create a trapping field. The RF field is usually collapsed prior to ion ejection. In an illustrative embodiment the RF power supply includes a RF signal supply; a coil arranged to receive the signal provided by the RF signal supply and to provide an output RF signal for supply to electrodes of an ion storage device; and a shunt including a switch operative to switch between a first open position and a second closed position in which the shunt shorts the coil output.

Abstract: An RF transformer for supplying power as part of a tank circuit, comprising: a primary side, having at least one main winding and at least one shorting winding, the at least one main winding being configured to receive an RF input; a secondary side, having a first winding inductively coupled to the at least one main winding of the primary side and a second winding inductively coupled to the at least one shorting winding of the primary side; and a switching arrangement, adjustable between a first state in which the at least one shorting winding of the primary side is shorted and a second state in which the at least one shorting winding of the primary side is not shorted, such that the resonant frequency of the tank circuit is changed by adjusting between the first and second states.

Abstract: A method of mass analysis and a mass spectrometer are provided wherein a batch of ions is accumulated in a mass analyser; the batch of ions accumulated in the mass analyser is detected using image current detection to provide a detected signal; the number of ions in the batch of ions accumulated in the mass analyser is controlled using an algorithm based on a previous detected signal obtained using image current detection from a previous batch of ions accumulated in the mass analyser; wherein one or more parameters of the algorithm are adjusted based on a measurement of ion current or charge obtained using an independent detector located outside of the mass analyser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) power supply in a mass spectrometer. The power supply provides an RF signal to electrodes of a storage device to create a trapping field. The RF field is usually collapsed prior to ion ejection. In an illustrative embodiment the RF power supply includes a RF signal supply; a coil arranged to receive the signal provided by the RF signal supply and to provide an output RF signal for supply to electrodes of an ion storage device; and a shunt including a switch operative to switch between a first open position and a second closed position in which the shunt shorts the coil output.

Abstract: A detection system and a method for detecting ions which have been separated in a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyser, comprising an amplifying arrangement for converting ions into packets of secondary particles and amplifying the packets of secondary particles, wherein the amplifying arrangement is arranged so that each packet of secondary particles produces at least a first output and a second output separated in time and so that during the delay between producing the first and second output the first output produced by a packet of secondary particles is used for modulating the second output produced by the same packet. An increased dynamic range of detection and protection of the detection system against intense ion pulses is thereby provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mass spectrometer including a reaction cell and to a method of using such a mass spectrometer. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a tandem mass spectrometer and to tandem mass spectrometry. The invention provides a method of mass spectrometry using a mass spectrometer having a longitudinal axis, comprising guiding ions to travel along the longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer in a forwards direction to pass through an intermediate ion store and then to enter a reaction cell, to process the ions within the reaction cell, to eject the processed ions to travel back along the longitudinal axis to enter the intermediate ion store once more, and to eject one or more pulses of the processed ions in an off-axis direction to a mass analyser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) power supply in a mass spectrometer. The power supply provides an RF signal to electrodes of a storage device to create a trapping field. The RF field is usually collapsed prior to ion ejection. In an illustrative embodiment the RF power supply includes a RF signal supply; a coil arranged to receive the signal provided by the RF signal supply and to provide an output RF signal for supply to electrodes of an ion storage device; and a shunt including a switch operative to switch between a first open position and a second closed position in which the shunt shorts the coil output.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) power supply in a mass spectrometer. The power supply provides an RF signal to electrodes of a storage device to create a trapping field. The RF field is usually collapsed prior to ion ejection. In an illustrative embodiment the RF power supply includes a RF signal supply; a coil arranged to receive the signal provided by the RF signal supply and to provide an output RF signal for supply to electrodes of an ion storage device; and a shunt including a switch operative to switch between a first open position and a second closed position in which the shunt shorts the coil output.

Abstract: A method of switching between two modes of power supply to a mass analyser is provided. In a first mode of operation, operated for a first predefined time duration, a first power supply, coupled to the mass analyser, generates a first non zero potential, whilst a second power supply, disconnected from the mass analyser, generates a second non-zero potential. In a second mode of operation, operated for a second predefined time duration, the second potential is coupled to the mass analyser, whilst the first power supply, disconnected from the mass analyser, generates the first potential. These predefined time durations are selected such that only one of: the first potential; and the second potential is coupled to the mass analyser at any time, and such that the first and second modes of operation are carried out at least once within a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mass spectrometer including a reaction cell and to a method of using such a mass spectrometer. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a tandem mass spectrometer and to tandem mass spectrometry. The invention provides a method of mass spectrometry using a mass spectrometer having a longitudinal axis, comprising guiding ions to travel along the longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer in a forwards direction to pass through an intermediate ion store and then to enter a reaction cell, to process the ions within the reaction cell, to eject the processed ions to travel back along the longitudinal axis to enter the intermediate ion store once more, and to eject one or more pulses of the processed ions in an off-axis direction to a mass analyser.