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: 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: 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 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: 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: A mass spectrometer is described that includes a multipole configured to pass an ion stream, the ion stream comprising an abundance of one or more ion species within stability boundaries defined by (a, q) values. A detector formed by a plurality of dynodes is configured to detect the spatial and temporal properties of the abundance of ions, where each dynode arranged such that it is struck by ions in a known spatial relationship with the ion stream. The detector also includes a plurality of charged particle detectors, each associated with one or more of the plurality of dynodes. A processing system is configured to record and store a pattern of detection of ions in the abundance of ions by the dynodes in the detector.

Abstract: A multipole assembly configured to be disposed in a mass spectrometer includes a plurality of elongate electrodes arranged about an axis extending along a longitudinal trajectory of the plurality of elongate electrodes and configured to confine ions radially about the axis, and a piezoelectric actuator configured to adjust a position of a first electrode included in the plurality of elongate electrodes.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is described that includes a multipole configured to pass an ion stream, the ion stream comprising an abundance of one or more ion species within stability boundaries defined by (a, q) values. A detector formed by a plurality of dynodes is configured to detect the spatial and temporal properties of the abundance of ions, where each dynode arranged such that it is struck by ions in a known spatial relationship with the ion stream. The detector also includes a plurality of charged particle detectors, each associated with one or more of the plurality of dynodes. A processing system is configured to record and store a pattern of detection of ions in the abundance of ions by the dynodes in the detector.

Abstract: An ion detector includes a first stage dynode configured to receive an ion beam and generate electrons, a photon source arranged to provide photons to the first stage dynode, the photons of sufficient energy to cause the first stage dynode to emit photoelectrons, an electron multiplier configured to receive the electrons or the photoelectrons from the first stage dynode and generate an output proportional to the number of electrons or photoelectrons, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the output generated in response to the photoelectrons; calculate a gain curve of the detector based on the output; and set a voltage of the electron multiplier or the first stage dynode to achieve a target gain for the ion beam.

Abstract: A multipole assembly configured to be disposed in a mass spectrometer includes a plurality of elongate electrodes arranged about an axis extending along a longitudinal trajectory of the plurality of elongate electrodes and configured to confine ions radially about the axis, and a piezoelectric actuator configured to adjust a position of a first electrode included in the plurality of elongate electrodes.

Abstract: A method of assessing the linearity and dynamic range of a mass spectrometer is described comprising analyzing two or more test standards containing positional isomers, for example, using a series of N isomeric analytes with or without an internal standard where N is an integer from 2 to 6 inclusive. The concentrations of the N isomeric analytes may or may not be interleaved between two or more standards. The method allows for repeated instrument characterization without having many of the problems associated with using only a single standard such as octafluoronaphthalene (OFN), for example, persistence, and it may lessen sample carryover issues between adjacent samples. Methods are described using positional isomers of dibromodifluorobenzene in various configurations that show an improved means for qualitative and quantitative analysis of one or more analytes by GC-MS.

Abstract: A multipole assembly configured to be disposed in a mass spectrometer includes a plurality of elongate electrodes arranged about an axis extending along a longitudinal trajectory of the plurality of elongate electrodes and configured to confine ions radially about the axis, and a piezoelectric actuator configured to adjust a position of a first electrode included in the plurality of elongate electrodes.

Abstract: A multipole assembly configured to be disposed in a mass spectrometer includes a plurality of elongate electrodes arranged about an axis extending along a longitudinal trajectory of the plurality of elongate electrodes and configured to confine ions radially about the axis, and a piezoelectric actuator configured to adjust a position of a first electrode included in the plurality of elongate electrodes.

Abstract: An ion detector includes a first stage dynode configured to receive an ion beam and generate electrons, a photon source arranged to provide photons to the first stage dynode, the photons of sufficient energy to cause the first stage dynode to emit photoelectrons, an electron multiplier configured to receive the electrons or the photoelectrons from the first stage dynode and generate an output proportional to the number of electrons or photoelectrons, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the output generated in response to the photoelectrons; calculate a gain curve of the detector based on the output; and set a voltage of the electron multiplier or the first stage dynode to achieve a target gain for the ion beam.

Abstract: A multipole assembly configured to be disposed in a mass spectrometer includes a plurality of elongate electrodes arranged about an axis extending along a longitudinal trajectory of the plurality of elongate electrodes and configured to confine ions radially about the axis, and a piezoelectric actuator configured to adjust a position of a first electrode included in the plurality of elongate electrodes.

Abstract: A method of operating a mass spectrometer comprising: detecting a first ion species using a first gain setting of a detector or a first emission current for a first mass-to-charge range; detecting a second ion species using a second gain setting of the detector or a second emission current for a second mass-to-charge range; and using the detected first and second ion species to calibrate the mass range of a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer, to tune the resolution of the mass analyzer, or to tune an ion optic of the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A method includes producing ions from one or more calibrant species and delivering the ions to a mass analyzer, and measuring a first set of mass related physical values for the ions from the one or more calibrant species. The method further includes producing ions from a sample and delivering the ions to a mass analyzer, and measuring a second mass related physical value for a first sample ion species. The first sample ion species has a mass-to-charge ratio outside of the range of the mass-to-charge ratios of the calibrant ion species. Additionally, the method includes calculating a calibration curve based on the first set of mass related physical values and second mass related physical value, and modifying at least one instrument parameter based on the calibration curve.

Abstract: A method of assessing the linearity and dynamic range of a mass spectrometer is described comprising analyzing two or more test standards containing positional isomers, for example, using a series of N isomeric analytes with or without an internal standard where N is an integer from 2 to 6 inclusive. The concentrations of the N isomeric analytes may or may not be interleaved between two or more standards. The method allows for repeated instrument characterization without having many of the problems associated with using only a single standard such as octafluoronaphthalene (OFN), for example, persistence, and it may lessen sample carryover issues between adjacent samples. Methods are described using positional isomers of dibromodifluorobenzene in various configurations that show an improved means for qualitative and quantitative analysis of one or more analytes by GC-MS.

Abstract: A method includes producing ions from one or more calibrant species and delivering the ions to a mass analyzer, and measuring a first set of mass related physical values for the ions from the one or more calibrant species. The method further includes producing ions from a sample and delivering the ions to a mass analyzer, and measuring a second mass related physical value for a first sample ion species. The first sample ion species has a mass-to-charge ratio outside of the range of the mass-to-charge ratios of the calibrant ion species. Additionally, the method includes calculating a calibration curve based on the first set of mass related physical values and second mass related physical value, and modifying at least one instrument parameter based on the calibration curve.

Abstract: A method includes producing ions from one or more calibrant species and delivering the ions to a mass analyzer, and measuring a first set of mass related physical values for the ions from the one or more calibrant species. The method further includes producing ions from a sample and delivering the ions to a mass analyzer, and measuring a second mass related physical value for a first sample ion species. The first sample ion species has a mass-to-charge ratio outside of the range of the mass-to-charge ratios of the calibrant ion species. Additionally, the method includes calculating a calibration curve based on the first set of mass related physical values and second mass related physical value, and modifying at least one instrument parameter based on the calibration curve.