Abstract
Previous experimental and theoretical work identified that the application of a static magnetic (B) field can improve the resolution of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) and this simple method of performance enhancement offers advantages for field deployment. Presented here are further data showing the effect of the transverse magnetic field upon the QMS performance. For the first time, the asymmetry in QMS operation with B x and B y is considered and explained in terms of operation in the fourth quadrant of the stability diagram. The results may be explained by considering the additional Lorentz force (v x B) experienced by the ion trajectories in each case. Using our numerical approach, we model not only the individual ion trajectories for a transverse B field applied in x and y but also the mass spectra and the effect of the magnetic field upon the stability diagram. Our theoretical findings, confirmed by experiment, show an improvement in resolution and ion transmission by application of magnetic field for certain operating conditions.
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Acknowledgments
S.M. thanks Dr. Ian Smith at the University of Liverpool for his assistance with utilizing the Condor High Throughput Computing Service.
S.M. acknowledges the provision of a Doctoral Training Award from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (University of Liverpool) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
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Supplemental Figure 1
Cross section of QMF electrodes with static magnetic field applied along the x-axis, where ϕ 0 = (U − V cos(ωt)) (TIFF 162 kb)
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Maher, S., Syed, S.U., Hughes, D.M. et al. Mapping the Stability Diagram of a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer with a Static Transverse Magnetic Field Applied. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 24, 1307–1314 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-013-0654-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-013-0654-5