Patent ID: 8242438
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A method of transferring ions from a first ion trap to a second ion trap, the first and second ion trap separated by a distance, the distance including ion optics, and the method comprising the steps of: ejecting ions from the first ion trap and allowing spatial separation of ions with higher and lower mass to charge ratios over at least a portion of the ion optics, wherein the ion optics include a first and a second ion guide in series, the second ion guide being longer than the first ion guide, the first ion guide being positoned proximate the first ion trap; applying a mass dependent potential energy signal to the ions after entering one of the two ion guides, such that higher mass to charge ratio ions acquire a higher kinetic energy than the lower mass to charge ratio ions; allowing the energized ions to traverse from the first to the second trap via the ion optics; and the mass dependent potential energy signal applied being such that substantially all ions enter the second ion trap at substantially the same time, and have substantially the same kinetic energy.