Abstract: A charge detection mass spectrometer, CDMS, is described. The CDMS comprises: an electrostatic sector field ion trap and an inductive charge detector, wherein the electrostatic sector field ion trap is configured to define, at least in part, an ion path via the inductive charge detector; and a fragmentation device. A method is also described.

Abstract: A method of correcting mass spectral data comprises making calibration measurements of first intrinsic components (A, B, C) at one or more calibration times (t1) using calibrants which have known mass to charge ratio (m/z) values or previously mass measured mass to charge ratio (m/z) values, making a list of second intrinsic components (D, E, F) which are present during more than one acquisition periods, wherein the second intrinsic components have mass to charge ratio (m/z) values that were not present or observed during or close to the one or more calibration times (t1) but which do overlap in time with the first intrinsic components (A, B, C), and utilising the list to calculate a mass or mass to charge ratio (m/z) correction factor for one or more acquisition periods which are not close or adjacent in time to an acquisition period containing a directly calibrated mass to charge ratio (m/z) value.

Abstract: A method of separating ions according to their ion mobility using an ion mobility separation device including a first section and a second section is disclosed, comprising: urging ions through the first section against a first opposing electric field using a first driving force provided by a first set of time varying voltage(s) or voltage waveform(s); progressively reducing the magnitude of the first opposing electric field and/or progressively increasing the magnitude of the first driving force; and driving ions through the second section against a second opposing electric field using a second drive force provided by a second set of time-varying voltage(s) or voltage waveform(s); wherein the magnitude of the second opposing electric field is progressively reduced and/or the magnitude of the second driving force is progressively increased in tandem with reducing the magnitude of the first opposing electric field and/or increasing the magnitude of the first driving force.

Abstract: A Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising: at least one ion mirror 34 for reflecting ions; an ion detector 36 arranged for detecting the reflected ions; a first pulsed ion accelerator 30 for accelerating an ion packet in a first dimension (Y-dimension) towards the ion detector 36 so that the ion packet spatially converges in the first dimension as it travels to the detector 36; and a pulsed orthogonal accelerator 32 for orthogonally accelerating the ion packet in a second, orthogonal dimension (X-dimension) into one of said at least one ion mirrors 34.

Abstract: A method of time of flight (ToF) mass spectrometry comprising: pushing ions into a ToF mass analyser in a plurality of pushes, wherein the time spacing between adjacent pushes is shorter than either the longest flight time, or the range of flight times, of the ions; detecting the ions so as to obtain spectral data; decoding the spectral data to determine first mass spectral data relating to ions pushed into the ToF mass analyser by a first plurality of the pushes (P1-P4), and allocating this first mass spectral data to a first time stamp (t1); and decoding the spectral data to determine second mass spectral data relating to ions pushed into the ToF mass analyser by a second plurality of the pushes (P5-P8), and allocating this second mass spectral data to a second time-stamp (t2); wherein the first and second time-stamps have a time difference therebetween that is shorter than said longest flight time, or said range of flight times (4), in the ToF mass analyser.

Abstract: A Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising: at least one ion mirror ((34) for reflecting ions; an ion detector (36) arranged for detecting the reflected ions; a first pulsed ion accelerator (30) for accelerating an ion packet in a first dimension (Y-dimension) towards the ion detector (36) so that the ion packet spatially converges in the first dimension as it travels to the detector (36); and a pulsed orthogonal accelerator (32) for orthogonally accelerating the ion packet in a second, orthogonal dimension (X-dimension) into one of said at least one ion mirrors (34).

Abstract: A multi-reflecting time of flight mass analyser is disclosed in which the ion flight path is maintained relatively small and the duty cycle is made relatively high. Spatial focusing of the ions in the dimension (z-dimension) in which the mirrors (36) are elongated can be eliminated whilst maintaining a reasonably high sensitivity and resolution.

Abstract: A method of time-of-flight mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing two ion mirrors (42) that are spaced apart in a first dimension (X-dimension) and that are each elongated in a second dimension (Z-dimension) orthogonal to the first dimension; introducing packets of ions (47) into the space between the mirrors using an ion introduction mechanism (43) such that the ions repeatedly oscillate in the first dimension (X-dimension) between the mirrors (42) as they drift through said space in the second dimension (Z-dimension); oscillating the ions in a third dimension (Y-dimension) orthogonal to both the first and second dimensions as the ions drift through said space in the second dimension (Z-dimension); and receiving the ions in or on an ion receiving mechanism (44) after the ions have oscillated multiple times in the first dimension (X-dimension); wherein at least part of the ion introduction mechanism (43) and/or at least part of the ion receiving mechanism (44) is arranged between the mirrors (42

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 Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising: at least one ion mirror ((34) for reflecting ions; an ion detector (36) arranged for detecting the reflected ions; a first pulsed ion accelerator (30) for accelerating an ion packet in a first dimension (Y-dimension) towards the ion detector (36) so that the ion packet spatially converges in the first dimension as it travels to the detector (36); and a pulsed orthogonal accelerator (32) for orthogonally accelerating the ion packet in a second, orthogonal dimension (X-dimension) into one of said at least one ion mirrors (34).

Abstract: An ion mirror is disclosed comprising an ion entrance electrode section (62) at the ion entrance to the ion mirror, an energy focussing electrode section (66) for reflecting ions back along a longitudinal axis towards said ion entrance, and a spatial focussing electrode section (64) arranged between the ion entrance electrode section (62) and the energy focussing electrode section (66) for spatially focussing the ions. One or more DC voltage supply is provided to apply a DC potential to the ion entrance electrode section (62) that is intermediate the DC potential applied to the spatial focussing electrode section (64) and the DC potential applied to the energy focussing electrode section (66).

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising ion optics that map an array of ions at an ion source array (71) to a corresponding array of positions on a position sensitive ion detector (79). The ion optics include at least one gridless ion mirror (76) for reflecting ions, which may compensate for various aberrations and allows the spectrometer to have relatively high mass and spatial resolutions.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising passing ions to an oversampled Time of Flight mass analyser (4) and sequentially recording ion signals on a plurality of different channels (51, 52) to obtain a plurality of first oversampled mass spectral data sets of reduced complexity. An upstream separation device (3) may be provided to further reduce the complexity of each of the mass spectral data sets.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising: an ion deflector (305) configured to deflect ions to different positions in a first array of positions at different times; a position sensitive ion detector (187); and ion optics (180) arranged and configured to guide ions from the first array of positions to the position sensitive detector (187) so as to map ions from the first array of positions to a second array of positions on the position sensitive detector (187); wherein the ion optics includes at least one ion mirror for reflecting the ions.

Abstract: A multi-reflecting time of flight mass analyser is disclosed in which the ion flight path is maintained relatively small and the duty cycle is made relatively high. Spatial focussing of the ions in the dimension (z-dimension) in which the mirrors (36) are elongated can be eliminated whilst maintaining a reasonably high sensitivity and resolution.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising separating precursor ions using an ion mobility separator such that different precursor ions have different drift times through the on mobility separator; mass filtering said separated precursor ions with a mass filter, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the precursor ions transmitted by the mass filter vary as a function of the drift times of the precursor ions through the ion mobility separator; performing a first mode of operation comprising fragmenting the separated and mass filtered precursor ions in a fragmentation device to form fragment ions; urging the fragment ions through the fragmentation device such that fragment ions derived from different precursor ions that have been separated by the ion mobility separator are maintained spatially separated from each other as they are urged through the fragmentation device; and detecting the fragment ions. The method enables precursor ions to be associated with their related fragment ions more accurately.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising isolating a group of different ions derived from chemical compounds in the same class, wherein the different ions have different mass to charge ratios and ion mobilities. The step of isolating comprises temporally separating the ions according to their ion mobility in an ion mobility separator; and mass filtering the ions according to mass to charge ratio with a mass filter. The mass to charge ratios transmitted by the mass filter are varied as a function of time such that said different ions derived from chemical compounds in the same class are transmitted by the mass filter and other ions are not transmitted by the mass filter.

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: An ion manipulation device is disclosed comprising: an ion receiving region (30) for receiving ions; a pair of electrodes (14,16) adjacent the ion receiving region (30); and an AC or RF voltage supply (18) arranged to apply an AC or RF voltage to said electrodes (14,16), or arranged and configured to generate an electromagnetic field that couples to said electrodes (14,16) in use, such that an electromagnetic standing wave (24) is generated between said electrodes (14,16). A first of the electrodes (14) comprises one or more apertures through which an electric field from the standing wave (24) penetrates and enters the ion receiving region (30), in use, for urging said ions away from the one or more apertures.

Abstract: An ion manipulation device is disclosed comprising: an ion receiving region (30) for receiving ions; a pair of electrodes (14,16) adjacent the ion receiving region (30); and an AC or RF voltage supply (18) arranged to apply an AC or RF voltage to said electrodes (14,16), or arranged and configured to generate an electromagnetic field that couples to said electrodes (14,16) in use, such that an electromagnetic standing wave (24) is generated between said electrodes (14,16). A first of the electrodes (14) comprises one or more apertures through which an electric field from the standing wave (24) penetrates and enters the ion receiving region (30), in use, for urging said ions away from the one or more apertures.