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 guiding device is disclosed comprising a first ion guide which is conjoined with a second ion guide. Ions are urged across a radial pseudo-potential barrier which separates the two guiding regions by a DC potential gradient. Ions may be transferred from an ion guide which has a relatively large cross-sectional profile to an ion guide which has a relatively small cross-sectional profile in order to improve the subsequent ion confinement of the ions.

Abstract: A mass analyser is provided comprising a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted. A plurality of pseudo-potential corrugations are created along the axis of the mass analyser. The amplitude or depth of the pseudo-potential corrugations is inversely proportional to the mass to charge ratio of an ion. Transient DC voltages are applied to the electrodes in order to urge ions along the length of the mass analyser. The amplitude of the transient DC voltages applied to the electrodes is increased with time and ions are caused to be emitted from the mass analyser in reverse order of their mass to charge ratio. Two AC or RF voltages are applied to the electrodes. The first AC or RF voltage is arranged to provide optimal pseudo-potential corrugations whilst the second AC or RF voltage is arranged to provide optimal radial confinement of ions within the mass analyser.

Abstract: An ion-ion reaction cell is provided comprising a plurality of electrodes forming an ion guide. A transient DC voltage wave is applied to the electrodes in order to load reagent anions into the ion guide. Analyte cations are then subsequently transmitted through the ion-ion reaction cell by a subsequent transient DC voltage wave. Ion are arranged to undergo ion-ion reactions within the reaction cell and the resulting fragment ions which are formed within the reaction cell are then subsequently translated out of the reaction cell by means of a transient DC voltage wave.

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 computer device for performing automatic human language translation includes memory storing program code of an application program and program code of a translation utility. A processor executes program code of the application program configured to display localized text in a first language on a display screen of the computer device. The processor further executes program code of the translation utility configured to detect user interest in the localized text, to acquire the localized text from the display screen in automatic response to detecting the user interest in the localized text, to obtain one or more translations in a second language for the localized text in automatic response to acquiring the localized text from the screen, and to report each obtained translation for the localized text.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein an ion signal is split into a first and second signal. The first and second signals are multiplied by different gains and are digitised. Arrival time and intensity pairs are calculated for both digitised signals and the resulting time and intensity pairs are combined to form a high dynamic range spectrum. The spectrum is then combined with other corresponding spectra to form a summed spectrum.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a first ion trap arranged upstream of an analytical second ion trap. The charge capacity of the first ion trap is set at a value such that if all the ions stored within the first ion trap up to the charge capacity limit of the first ion trap are then transferred to the second ion trap, then the analytical performance of the second ion trap is not substantially degraded due to space charge effects.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an Electron Transfer Dissociation device comprising an ion guide. A control system determines the degree of fragmentation and charge reduction of precursor ions within the ion guide and varies the speed at which ions are transmitted through the ion guide in order to optimise the fragmentation and charge reduction process.