Abstract: The invention relates to RF voltage-operated ion guides based on stacked apertured diaphragms. The invention provides ion guides consisting of diaphragm stacks that permit the ion beam to be shaped in cross-section so that it corresponds to the acceptance profile of the subsequent section of the device, therefore yielding optimal ion transmission. For this purpose, at least some of the diaphragms in the diaphragm stacks do not have circular openings, but instead have openings which shape the cross section of the emerging ion beam in the desired manner. It is possible, for instance, to obtain elliptical beam cross sections, divided beams or beams focused to the shape of a fine thread at the output of the diaphragm stacks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of creating multipole systems carrying RF voltage which can be used as ion guides, mass-selective quadrupole filters or collision cells to fragment ions; and multipole systems manufactured according to this method. The invention provides a method which produces particularly inexpensive multipole systems by spark erosion with a wire cathode. The multipole rod system comprises only two pieces of metal for connection to the two phases of the RF voltage, and the two pieces of metal are adjusted with respect to each other by one or more identical insulating rings.

Abstract: The invention relates to RF voltage-operated ion guides based on stacked apertured diaphragms. The invention provides ion guides consisting of diaphragm stacks that permit the ion beam to be shaped in cross-section so that it corresponds to the acceptance profile of the subsequent section of the device, therefore yielding optimal ion transmission. For this purpose, at least some of the diaphragms in the diaphragm stacks do not have circular openings, but instead have openings which shape the cross section of the emerging ion beam in the desired manner. It is possible, for instance, to obtain elliptical beam cross sections, divided beams or beams focused to the shape of a fine thread at the output of the diaphragm stacks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of creating multipole systems carrying RF voltage which can be used as ion guides, mass-selective quadrupole filters or collision cells to fragment ions; and multipole systems manufactured according to this method. The invention provides a method which produces particularly inexpensive multipole systems by spark erosion with a wire cathode. The multipole rod system comprises only two pieces of metal for connection to the two phases of the RF voltage, and the two pieces of metal are adjusted with respect to each other by one or more identical insulating rings.