Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF ion guide wherein in a mode of operation a continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is orthogonally sampled from the ion guide and wherein the continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is not axially trapped or otherwise axially confined within the RF ion guide. The ion guide is maintained, in use, at a pressure selected from the group consisting of: (i) 0.0001-0.001 mbar; (ii) 0.001-0.01 mbar; (iii) 0.01-0.1 mbar; (iv) 0.1-1 mbar; (v) 1-10 mbar; (vi) 10-100 mbar; and (vii) >100 mbar.

Abstract: A Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising one or more devices arranged and adapted to correct for tilt in an isochronous plane of ions and to adjust the isochronous plane of the ions so as to be parallel with the plane of detection in an ion detector.

Abstract: A non-linear ion guide is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrodes. An ion guiding region is arranged between the electrodes, and the ion guiding region curves at least in a first direction. A DC voltage is applied to at least some of the electrodes in order to form a DC potential well which acts to confine ions within the ion guiding region in the first direction.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF ion guide wherein in a mode of operation a continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is orthogonally sampled from the ion guide and wherein the continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is not axially trapped or otherwise axially confined within the RF ion guide. The Ion guide is maintained, in use, at a pressure selected from the group consisting of: (i) 0.0001-0.001 mbar; (ii) 0.001-0.01 mbar; (iii) 0.01-0.1 mbar; (iv) 0.1-1 mbar; (v) 1-10 mbar; (vi) 10-100 mbar; and (vii) >100 mbar.

Abstract: An ion guide is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrodes. A first device is arranged and adapted to apply a RF voltage to at least some of the electrodes in order to form, in use, a pseudo-potential well which acts to confine ions in a first direction within the ion guide. A second device is arranged and adapted to apply a DC voltage to at least some of the electrodes in order to form, in use, a DC potential well which acts to confine ions in a second direction within the ion guide. A third device is arranged and adapted to cause ions having desired or undesired mass to charge ratios to be mass to charge ratio selectively ejected from the ion guide in the second direction.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a quadrupole rod set ion trap wherein a potential field is created at the exit of the ion trap which decreases with increasing radius in one radial direction. Ions within the ion trap are mass selectively excited in a radial direction. Ions which have been excited in the radial direction experience a potential field which no longer confines the ions axially within the ion trap but which instead acts to extract the ions and hence causes the ions to be ejected axially from the ion trap.

Abstract: An ion guide array is disclosed comprising a first ion guide section and a second ion guide section. Each ion guide section may comprise a plurality of electrodes having an aperture through which ions are transmitted in use. A transfer section is arranged at the exit of the first ion guide section and ions are transmitted radially from the first ion guide section into the second ion guide section. Electrodes in the transfer section may have a radial aperture enabling ions to be transmitted radially from the first ion guide section to the second ion guide section.

Abstract: A Time of Flight mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein a fifth order spatial focusing device is provided. The device which may comprise an additional stage in the source region of the Time of Flight mass analyser is arranged to introduce a non-zero fifth order spatial focusing term so that the combined effect of first, third and fifth order spatial focusing terms results in a reduction in the spread of ion arrival times ?T of ions arriving at the ion detector.

Abstract: A linear ion trap is disclosed wherein an asymmetric voltage waveform is applied to electrodes forming the ion trap which causes ions to become radially separated according to their differential ion mobility. An axial potential barrier is arranged at the exit of the ion trap such that ions having a first differential ion mobility and a first radial displacement are retained axially within the ion trap but ions having a second differential ion mobility and a second radial displacement are ejected axially from the ion trap.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF confinement device, a beam expander and a Time of Flight mass analyser. The beam expander is arranged to expand an ion beam emerging from the RF confinement device so that the ion beam is expanded to a diameter of at least 3 mm in the orthogonal acceleration extraction region of the Time of Flight mass analyser.

Abstract: An ion guide array is disclosed comprising a first ion guide section and a second ion guide section. Each ion guide section may comprise a plurality of electrodes having an aperture through which ions are transmitted in use. A transfer section is arranged at the exit of the first ion guide section and ions are transmitted radially from the first ion guide section into the second ion guide section. Electrodes in the transfer section may have a radial aperture enabling ions to be transmitted radially from the first ion guide section to the second ion guide section.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is disclosed wherein ions are passed through an ion mobility spectrometer (5) and become temporally separated. Ions having a relatively high ion mobility are transmitted by a non-destructive ion gate (6) but ions having a relatively low ion mobility are subsequently trapped within the ion mobility spectrometer (5) when the ion gate (6) is switched so as to prevent ions from being onwardly transmitted. Ions which are transmitted by the ion gate (6) are trapped in a downstream ion trap (7). The ions are then returned back upstream to a second upstream ion trap (4).

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is disclosed wherein ions are passed through an ion mobility spectrometer (5) and become temporally separated. Ions having a relatively high ion mobility are transmitted by a non-destructive ion gate (6) but ions having a relatively low ion mobility are subsequently trapped within the ion mobility spectrometer (5) when the ion gate (6) is switched so as to prevent ions from being onwardly transmitted. Ions which are transmitted by the ion gate (6) are trapped in a downstream ion trap (7). The ions are then returned back upstream to a second upstream ion trap (4).