Mass-selective isolation of ions stored in a quadrupole ion trap. A simulation study

Abstract

Trajectories of single ions stored in the quadrupole ion trap have been calculated using a simulation program described as the specific program for quadrupolar resonance (SPQR). Previously, the program has been used for the investigation of quadrupolar resonance excitation of ions with a static working point (or co-ordinates) in the stability diagram. The program has been modified to accommodate continuous d.c. and/or r.f. voltage ramps so as to permit calculation of ion trajectories while the working point is being changed. The modified program has been applied to the calculation of ion trajectories during ion isolation, or mass-selective storage, in the ion trap. The quadrupolar resonance excitation aspect of SPQR was not used in this study. Trajectories are displayed as temporal variations of ion kinetic energy, and axial and radial excursions from the centre of the ion trap. The working points of three ion species ( m/ z 144, 146 and 148), located initially on the q z , axis with q z ≈ 0.12, were moved to the vicinity of the upper apex by a combination of r.f. and d.c. voltages applied in succession. Stable trajectories were maintained only for the ion species of m/ z 146 for which the working point lay within this apex; the other ion species were ejected either radially or axially. The d.c. voltage was then reduced to zero so as to restore the working point of the isolated ion species to the q z axis. The amplitude of the r.f voltage was reduced to its initial value so as to retrieve the initial working point for m/ z 146. The process extended over a real time of 2.9 ms, and was collision-free. The trajectory of the isolated ion was stable during this process; the ion species with m/ z value lower than that of the target ion, that is, m/ z 144, was ejected axially at the β z = 1 boundary, while that with higher m/ z value, that is, m/ z 148, was ejected radially at the β r = 0 boundary, as expected. The moderating effects of buffer gas were not taken into consideration and ion kinetic energies during the sorting period were found to be sufficiently great that dissociative losses may be appreciable in a collisional system. A possible strategy for reducing kinetic energy during this process has been proposed.