page_title: Ion trap
section_title: Ion trap mass spectrometers
hierarchical_section_title: Ion trap / Ion trap mass spectrometers
caption_attribution_description: English: Dual linear ion trap of Orbitrab Velos hybrid mass spectrometer. Partially disassembled. The owner: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences. Polski: Podwójna liniowa pułapka jonowa tandemowego spektrometru mas Orbitrap Velos. Własność Instytutu Biochemii i Biofizyki, PAN.
context_page_description: An ion trap is a combination of electric or magnetic fields used to capture charged particles — known as ions — often in a system isolated from an external environment. Ion traps have a number of scientific uses such as mass spectrometry, basic physics research, and controlling quantum states. The two most common types of ion trap are the Penning trap, which forms a potential via a combination of electric and magnetic fields, and the Paul trap which forms a potential via a combination of static and oscillating electric fields.
  Penning traps can be used for precise magnetic measurements in spectroscopy. Studies of quantum state manipulation most often use the Paul trap. This may lead to a trapped ion quantum computer and has already been used to create the world's most accurate atomic clocks. Electron guns can use an ion trap to prevent degradation of the cathode by positive ions.
context_section_description: An ion trap mass spectrometer may incorporate a Penning trap (Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance), Paul trap or the Kingdon trap. The Orbitrap, introduced in 2005, is based on the Kingdon trap. Other types of mass spectrometers may also use a linear quadrupole ion trap as a selective mass filter.
caption: A linear ion trap component of a mass spectrometer.
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