Abstract: A system for gas chromatography includes an inlet configured to receive a sample by injection, a column having a stationary phase, a flow control system, and an injection monitoring system. The flow control system is configured to regulate, based on a flow control parameter, flow of a mobile phase through the inlet and the column. The injection monitoring system is configured to obtain flow control data representative of a measure of the flow control parameter over time during a time period encompassing an injection of the sample into the inlet; determine, based on the flow control data, that the injection was unsuccessful; and perform, based on the determination that the injection was unsuccessful, a mitigation operation to mitigate the unsuccessful injection of the sample.

Abstract: Gas is flowed through a gas chromatography column at a first flow rate to cause a first change in pressure defining a first pressure differential. The first pressure differential and/or a first time duration for the first change in pressure is measured. At least one closed exhaust path is opened and a second flow rate through each of the at least one open exhaust paths is set. Gas is flowed through the column at a third flow rate and each of the at least one open exhaust paths at the second flow rate, causing a second change in pressure defining a second pressure differential. The second pressure differential and/or a second time duration for the second change in pressure is measured. A leak is determined based on one or more of measured first pressure differential and/or first time duration and measured second pressure differential and/or second time duration.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes an ion source configured to produce ions from a sample; a set of quadrupole rods configured to select ions based on a mass-to-charge ratio; a DC rod driver configured to produce a voltage; a DC rod driver filter configured to filter RF frequency interference; and a controller. The controller is configured to utilize the results of the constrained convex optimization to cause a DC rod drive to produce the DC filter input and provide a required voltage to the set of quadrupole rods, the constrained convex utilizing a impulse response curve of the DC rod driver filter to determine a DC filter input to achieve the required voltage on the set of quadrupole rods; select ions passing through the set of quadrupole rods based on the mass-to-charge ratio; and measure the intensity of the ions.

Abstract: A tuning system may acquire, from a mass spectrometer during a batch of one or more analytical runs performed with the mass spectrometer, tune data associated with an operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer. The tuning system may determine, based on the tune data, a value of an operating parameter configured to adjust the operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer and set the operating parameter to the determined value.

Abstract: A method of performing mass spectrometry includes obtaining, based on a series of mass spectra acquired over time with a first sampling rate as analytes elute from a separation system during an experiment, a first mass chromatogram dataset. The first mass chromatogram dataset represents a detected intensity of ions derived from the analytes and having a selected m/z as a function of time over a time period. The method further includes generating, based on the first mass chromatogram dataset and an upsampling model trained to upsample mass chromatogram data, a second mass chromatogram dataset representing an estimated intensity of the ions as a function of time over the time period. The second mass chromatogram dataset has a second sampling rate that is greater than the first sampling rate.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a vacuum chamber, a pump for maintaining a vacuum chamber at an operating vacuum pressure, an ion source, a first mass filter configured to select precursor ions, a collision/reaction cell pressurized with a collision or reaction gas and configured to generate a plurality of product ions from the precursor ions by colliding or reacting the precursor ions with one or more gas particles, and a second mass filter configured to select target ions from the product ions. Also provided are entrance and exit lenses between the collision/reaction cell and the first and second mass filters, respectively, each of which include axially-spaced ion lenses and evacuation chambers between adjacent ion lenses. A plenum fluidly connects the evacuation chambers to the pump inlet to facilitate evacuation of collision or reaction gas escaping the collision/reaction cell to the pump away from the first and second mass filters.

Abstract: An ion source includes an electron generator, an ionization chamber, and a magnetic field. The electron generator is configured to produce electrons. The ionization chamber has an electron entrance aperture through a first wall, an ion exit aperture through a second wall, and an axis. The ionization chamber is configured to produce ions. The magnetic field is arranged to confine electrons in a beam directed through the electron entrance aperture, in a direction within 45 degrees of parallel to the axis, and towards a location displaced from the ion exit aperture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are scientific instrument support systems, as well as related methods, computing devices, and computer-readable media. For example, in some embodiments, a scientific instrument support apparatus, includes timing logic to determine a maximum time without wetting for a syringe; and rinsing logic to control an autosampler to rinse the syringe when the maximum time without wetting is reached.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer system includes a vacuum manifold; an ion source positioned within the vacuum manifold for ionizing a sample; a mass analyzer for analyzing sample ions; a high vacuum pump connected to the vacuum manifold operable to maintain the pressure within the vacuum manifold at an operating pressure; and a controller configured to raise the pressure in the ion source to a sputtering pressure by supplying a flow of a sputtering gas and either reducing a speed of a high vacuum pump or isolating the ion source from the high vacuum pump; cause a conducting material to be sputtered on a surface of the ion source; and reduce the pressure in the ion source to an operating pressure by reducing the flow of the sputtering gas and either increasing the speed of the high vacuum pump or restoring connectivity between the ion source and the high vacuum pump.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a vacuum chamber, a pump for maintaining a vacuum chamber at an operating vacuum pressure, an ion source, a first mass filter configured to select precursor ions, a collision/reaction cell pressurized with a collision or reaction gas and configured to generate a plurality of product ions from the precursor ions by colliding or reacting the precursor ions with one or more gas particles, and a second mass filter configured to select target ions from the product ions. Also provided are entrance and exit lenses between the collision/reaction cell and the first and second mass filters, respectively, each of which include axially-spaced ion lenses and evacuation chambers between adjacent ion lenses. A plenum fluidly connects the evacuation chambers to the pump inlet to facilitate evacuation of collision or reaction gas escaping the collision/reaction cell to the pump away from the first and second mass filters.

Abstract: Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole. A controller circuit can determine that the actual amplitude of the RF signal differs than the expected amplitude and, in response, identify current and past environmental and performance parameters to adjust the amplitude.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry system having a simplified control interface includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform the steps of providing a user interface including a plurality of adjustment elements for adjusting at least one results effective parameter and at least one sample descriptive parameter; determining a plurality of instrument control parameters based on the at least one results effective parameter and the at least one sample descriptive parameter; and analyzing a sample while operating according to the plurality of instrument control parameters.

Abstract: Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole. A controller circuit can determine that the actual amplitude of the RF signal differs than the expected amplitude and, in response, identify current and past environmental and performance parameters to adjust the amplitude.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer collision cell system, comprising: a gas containment vessel comprising an internal chamber having ion inlet and ion outlet ends and a cross-sectional area, Achamber; a gas inlet aperture; first and second gas outlet apertures that are disposed at or proximal to the ion inlet and outlet ends, respectively, and that have respective outlet aperture cross-sectional areas, Aaperture1 and Aaperture2, and an average outlet aperture cross-sectional area, Aapertureave; a longitudinal axis of the chamber extending from the ion inlet end to the ion outlet end and having a length, Lchamber; and a set of multipole rod electrodes, at least a portion of each multipole rod electrode being within the chamber, wherein the values of Achamber, Lchamber and Aapertureave are such that the combined gas conductance of the chamber and the gas outlet apertures is not greater than 95 percent of the gas conductance of the gas outlet apertures alone.

Abstract: A signal processing assembly for a detector includes a signal amplifier, a control unit, and an offset control module. The signal amplifier is configured to receive an input signal from the detector assembly and to provide an output signal. The control unit is configured to compare a first data point from the output signal with a signal range, and to generate an input bias control signal based upon the comparison. The offset control module is coupled with the control unit and configured to receive the input bias control signal. The offset control module includes a power supply operatively coupled with an input of the signal amplifier, and the offset control module is configured to generate and apply an adaptive input offset signal at the input of the signal amplifier based upon the input bias control signal.

Abstract: An electron multiplier includes a series of discrete electron emissive surfaces or a continuous electron emissive resistive surface configured to provide an electron amplification chain; and a housing surrounding the series of electron emissive surfaces or the continuous electron emissive resistive surface and separating the environment inside the housing from the environment outside the housing. The housing includes an electron-transparent, gas-impermeable barrier configured to allow electrons to pass through into the housing to reach a first discrete electron emissive surface of the series of discrete electron emissive surfaces or a first portion of the continuous electron emissive resistive surface.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry system having a simplified control interface includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform the steps of providing a user interface including a plurality of adjustment elements for adjusting at least one results effective parameter and at least one sample descriptive parameter; determining a plurality of instrument control parameters based on the at least one results effective parameter and the at least one sample descriptive parameter; and analyzing a sample while operating according to the plurality of instrument control parameters.

Abstract: Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole based on an amplifier RF input signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can generate a digital representation of the RF signal. A controller circuit can receive the digital representation and adjust an amplitude of the amplifier RF input signal based on differences between an amplitude of a fundamental frequency of the RF signal being different than an expected amplitude.

Abstract: A tuning system may acquire, from a mass spectrometer during a batch of one or more analytical runs performed with the mass spectrometer, tune data associated with an operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer. The tuning system may determine, based on the tune data, a value of an operating parameter configured to adjust the operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer and set the operating parameter to the determined value.

Abstract: Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole. A controller circuit can determine that the actual amplitude of the RF signal differs than the expected amplitude and, in response, identify current and past environmental and performance parameters to adjust the amplitude.