The concept of electrostatic non-orbital harmonic ion trapping

Abstract

A new, more general type of electrostatic ion trap mass analyzer is described. The potential distribution of the electrical field in this trap can be expressed as a combination of a quadrupolar and logarithmic-Cassinian potential. As the field can be described, in part, by the Cassinian equation the trap is called a Cassinian trap. One mode of the Cassinian trap allows for a one-dimensional trapping motion. This is the first time a one-dimensional trapping motion has been theorized in combination with a harmonic analysis motion in an electrostatic trap. The one-dimensional trapping motion allows ions to be introduced and trapped readily in the Cassinian trap. Theoretically, a mass range of a factor of 50 can be accommodated.