ABRIDGED MULTIPOLE STRUCTURE FOR THE TRANSPORT AND SELECTION OF IONS IN A VACUUM SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An abridged multipole structure for the transport and selection of ions along a central axis in a vacuum system, comprising:
- a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension and being constructed so that a voltage applied across the second dimension produces an electrical potential at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension; and
a mechanism that positions the plurality of rectilinear electrode structures so that, for each electrode structure, the planar face faces the central axis and the first dimension extends along the central axis.
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Abstract
An abridged multipole structure for the transport and selection of ions along a central axis in a vacuum system is constructed from a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension. When a voltage is applied across the second dimension, an electrical potential is produced at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension. Two electrode structures can be arranged parallel to each other with the first dimension extending along the central axis or more electrodes structures can be arranged to form multipole structures with various polygonal cross sections.
42 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An abridged multipole structure for the transport and selection of ions along a central axis in a vacuum system, comprising:
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a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension and being constructed so that a voltage applied across the second dimension produces an electrical potential at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension; and a mechanism that positions the plurality of rectilinear electrode structures so that, for each electrode structure, the planar face faces the central axis and the first dimension extends along the central axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An abridged multipole structure for the transport and selection of ions along a plurality of axes in a vacuum system, comprising:
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a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension and being constructed so that a voltage applied across the second dimension produces an electrical potential at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension; and a mechanism that positions the plurality of rectilinear electrode structures so that, for each electrode structure, the planar face faces one of the plurality of axes and the first dimension extends along that one axis.
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16. A mass spectrometer comprising:
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an ion source; a vacuum system having a central axis; an ion detector; and an abridged multipole structure for the transport and selection of ions along the central axis including a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension and being constructed so that a voltage applied across the second dimension produces an electrical potential at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension; and
a mechanism that positions the plurality of rectilinear electrode structures so that, for each electrode structure, the planar face faces the central axis and the first dimension extends along the central axis.
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17. A method for transporting and selecting ions along a central axis in a vacuum system, comprising:
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(a) providing a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension and being constructed so that a voltage applied across the second dimension produces an electrical potential at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension; (b) positioning the plurality of rectilinear electrode structures so that, for each electrode structure, the planar face faces the central axis and the first dimension extends along the central axis; and (c) applying a voltage across each electrode structure second dimension. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. The method of 18 wherein step (b) comprises positioning four electrode structures to form a multipole structure having a square cross section and step (c) comprises applying voltages to the four electrode structures to produce an electrical potential within the multipole structure that has an amplitude Φ
- (t) according to the equation
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for the transport and selection of ions along a central axis, comprising:
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(a) providing a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension and being constructed so that a voltage applied across the second dimension produces an electrical potential at the planar face whose amplitude is a linear function of position along the second dimension; (b) positioning the plurality of rectilinear electrode structures so that, for each electrode structure, the planar face faces the central axis and the first dimension extends along the central axis to form a multipole structure; and (c) applying potentials to the electrode structures such that the electrode structures generate potentials which are linear functions of position along the second dimensions of each electrode structure in order to form a substantially homogeneous dipole field having field lines orthogonal to said central axis. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification