Abstract: A collision or fragmentation cell is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein a first RF voltage is applied to an upstream group of electrodes and a second different RF voltage is applied to a downstream group of electrodes. The radial confinement of parent ions entering the collision or fragmentation cell is optimised by the first RF voltage applied to the upstream group of electrodes and the radial confinement of daughter or fragment ions produced within the collision or fragmentation cell is optimised by the second different RF voltage applied to the downstream group of electrodes.

Abstract: A method for the analysis of mixtures of components includes separating or partially separating different components of a mixture of a sample by means that causes the components to elute sequentially over a period of time, forming precursor ions from the components in the eluent, repeatedly switching, altering or varying an Electron Capture Dissociation fragmentation device back and forth between a hi-fragmentation mode and a low-fragmentation mode to alternately produce product ions from the precursor ions in the hi-fragmentation mode and to produce substantially fewer product ions in the low-fragmentation mode, and obtaining mass spectra during the period of time from the precursor and product ions received from the Electron Capture Dissociation fragmentation device.

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 collision or fragmentation cell is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein a first RF voltage is applied to an upstream group of electrodes and a second different RF voltage is applied to a downstream group of electrodes. The radial confinement of parent ions entering the collision or fragmentation cell is optimized by the first RF voltage applied to the upstream group of electrodes and the radial confinement of daughter or fragment ions produced within the collision or fragmentation cell is optimized by the second different RF voltage applied to the downstream group of electrodes.

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 a 2D or 3D ion trap. The 2D ion trap comprises a quadrupole rod set ion trap wherein a slot is provided in each of the rods to allow ions to be ejected radially from the ion trap. The 3D ion trap comprises a central ring electrode which is radially segmented and wherein a slot is provided in each radial segment to allow ions to be ejected radially from the ion trap. Ions having different mass to charge ratios and/or opposite polarities may be simultaneously ejected from the ion trap via different exit pathways.

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 method of mass spectrometry is disclosed wherein voltage signals from an ion detector are analyzed. A second differential of each voltage signal is obtained and the start and end times of observed voltage peaks are determined. The intensity and average time of each voltage peak is then determined and the intensity and time values are stored. An intermediate composite mass spectrum is then formed by combining the intensity and time values which relate to each voltage peak observed from multiple experimental runs. The various pairs of time and intensity data are then integrated to produce a smooth continuum mass spectrum. The continuum mass spectrum may then be further processed by determining the second differential of the continuum mass spectrum. The start and end times of mass peaks observed in the continuum mass spectrum may be determined. The intensity and mass to charge ratio of each mass peak observed in the continuum mass spectrum may then determined.

Abstract: A method for the analysis of mixtures of components includes separating or partially separating different components of a mixture of a sample by means that causes the components to elute sequentially over a period of time, forming precursor ions from the components in the eluent, repeatedly switching, altering or varying an Electron Capture Dissociation fragmentation device back and forth between a hi-fragmentation mode and a low-fragmentation mode to alternately produce product ions from the precursor ions in the hi-fragmentation mode and to produce substantially fewer product ions in the low-fragmentation mode, and obtaining mass spectra during the period of time from the precursor and product ions received from the Electron Capture Dissociation fragmentation device.

Abstract: An ion source is disclosed wherein a sample is introduced into the sample chamber (1) of the ion source in the gas phase via a sample introduction capillary tube (2). The sample is directed onto a heated surface (6) coated with an oxidising reagent such as copper oxide. Carbon in the sample is oxidised to form carbon dioxide. The resulting carbon dioxide molecules are then ionised by electron impact ionisation with an electron beam (3) and the resulting ions are passed to a mass analyser for mass analysis.

Abstract: A method for the analysis of mixtures of components includes separating or partially separating different components of a mixture of a sample by means that causes the components to elute sequentially over a period of time, forming precursor ions from the components in the eluent, repeatedly switching, altering or varying an Electron Transfer Dissociation fragmentation device back and forth between a hi-fragmentation mode and a low-fragmentation mode to alternately produce product ions from the precursor ions in the hi-fragmentation mode and to produce substantially fewer product ions in the low-fragmentation mode, and obtaining mass spectra during the period of time from the precursor and product ions received from the Electron Transfer Dissociation fragmentation device.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a FAIMS device comprising two parallel electrodes (9a, 9b) in series with an ion mobility separator (12) forming part of a mass spectrometer. Ions are separated in the FAIMS device (9a, 9b) according to their rate of change of ion mobility with electric field strength. The ions which are onwardly transmitted from the FAIMS device (9a, 9b) are then passed to an ion separator device (12) comprising a plurality of electrodes (12) and an optional ion trapping region (33). Ions are radially confined with the ion separator by application of an AC or RF voltage to the electrodes (12) and ions are separated according to their ion mobility by applying an axial DC voltage gradient which may remain constant as a function of time or which may vary with time.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of identifying parent ions by matching daughter ions found to be produced at substantially the same time that the parent ions elute from a mixture. Ions emitted from an ion source (1) are transmitted to a fragmentation device (4) comprising an Electron Capture Dissociation, an Electron Transfer Dissociation or a Surface Induced Dissociation fragmentation device. The fragmentation device (4) is alternately and repeatedly switched between a first mode wherein the ions are substantially fragmented to produce daughter ions and a second mode wherein the ions are not substantially fragmented. Mass spectra are taken in both modes. At the end of an experimental run parent and daughter ions are recognized by comparing the mass spectra obtained in the two different modes. Daughter ions are matched to particular parent ions on the basis of the closeness of fit of their elution times, and this enables parent ions then to be identified.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mixture of components includes forming precursor ions from the components, alternately causing the precursor ions to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device, to form product ions from the precursor ions that pass to the device and to form substantially fewer product ions from precursor ions that by-pass the device, and obtaining mass spectra from product ions received from the device and from precursor ions that by-passed the device. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes an ion source for forming precursor ions from the components of the sample, a fragmentation device for forming product ions from the precursor ions, a by-pass device disposed upstream of the fragmentation device for switchable by-pass of the fragmentation device, and a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a 2D or 3D ion trap. The 2D ion trap comprises a quadrupole rod set ion trap wherein a slot is provided in each of the rods 1 to allow ions to be ejected radially from the ion trap. The 3D ion trap comprises a central ring electrode which is radially segmented and wherein a slot is provided in each radial segment to allow ions to be ejected radially from the ion trap. Ions having different mass to charge ratios and/or opposite polarities may be simultaneously ejected from the ion trap via different exit pathways.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator 4 and an ion guide 6 arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator 4. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide 6 so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator 4 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 4. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide 6.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mixture of components includes forming precursor ions from the components, alternately causing the precursor ions to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device, to form product ions from the precursor ions that pass to the device and to form substantially fewer product ions from precursor ions that by-pass the device, and obtaining mass spectra from product ions received from the device and from precursor ions that by-passed the device. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes an ion source for forming precursor ions from the components of the sample, a fragmentation device for forming product ions from the precursor ions, a by-pass device disposed upstream of the fragmentation device for switchable by-pass of the fragmentation device, and a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A collision or fragmentation cell (4) is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein a first RF voltage (7a) is applied to an upstream group of electrodes and a second different RF voltage (7b) is applied to a downstream group of electrodes. The radial confinement of parent ions entering the collision or fragmentation cell (4) is optimised by the first RF voltage applied to the upstream group of electrodes and the radial confinement of daughter or fragment ions produced within the collision or fragmentation cell (4) is optimised by the second different RF voltage applied to the downstream group of electrodes.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator (4) and an ion guide (6) arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator (4). A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide (6) so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator (4) 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 (4). The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide (6).

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography system (10) which is interfaced to a combustion chamber (16) and isotope ratio mass analyser (19) by means of an Electrospray Ionisation ion source (11) and a Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry device (13). Analyte and solvent molecules are ionised by the ion source (11). Desired analyte ions are substantially onwardly transmitted by the Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry device (13) to the combustion chamber (16) whereas undesired solvent ions are substantially attenuated by the Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry device (13).