In-series combination of a magnetic-sector mass spectrometer with a time-of-flight quadratic-field ion mirror

Abstract

A tandem mass spectrometer consisting of a double-focusing magnetic-sector mass analyzer in series with a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer has been designed and constructed. The TOF analyzer was a quadratic-field ion mirror. The method of ionization used was matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization. Precursor ions were mass selected with the magnetic-sector analyzer, and time focused by ion bunching prior to fragmentation in a collision cell. The fragment ions were mass analyzed with the TOF analyzer, which possessed the property that residence times (i.e., times of flight) in the mirror were independent of ion velocity. The theoretical background to the instrumental design is presented. Experimental results are presented, showing resolutions of 4000 in fragment ion spectra and demonstrating effective high-energy collision-induced decomposition of peptide molecule ions.

In pursuit of resolution in time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry: A historical perspective

“…Dodonov et al () and later Dawson and Guilhaus () championed orthogonal acceleration. Yoshida () and Andersen et al () explored so‐called quadratic‐field ion mirrors in various TOFs and tandem TOFs. The so‐called curved‐field ion mirror was promoted by Cotter and also Doroshenko (Doroshenko & Cotter, ; Doroshenko, ).…”

“…A miniature co-axial ion mirror with a curved-field was described by Cornish, Ecelberger, and Brinckerhoff (2000). This mirror was fabricated using printed circuitboard technology and flexible substrates (Andersen et al, 1998). A flat, thin, and flexible circuitboard with a series of etched thin copper traces was rolled into a tube and wrapped with fiberglass sheets.…”

Hybrid mass spectrometers for tandem mass spectrometry

“…About a decade later, sector/TOF hybrid instruments based on commercial sector mass spectrometers became available [47][48][49]. The goal in designing such systems was not, however, high speed MS/MS combined with chromatography, but instead combining pulsed ionization techniques (MALDI) with MS/MS.…”

Applications and performance of a MALDI-ToF mass spectrometer with quadratic field reflectron technology

“…The combination of increased flight length and conserved time distribution will increase the resolution achieved. A number of reflectron designs are commonly used in commercially available MALDI-ToF instruments including the conventional linear field reflectron [6], the curved field reflectron [7] and the harmonic or quadratic field (Z 2 ) reflectron described by Andersson et al [8].…”