Observation of higher order quadrupole excitation frequencies in a linear ion trap
The resonant frequencies for quadrupole excitation of ions confined with a buffer gas in a linear quadrupole ion trap with Mathieu parameters a = 0 and q approximately 0.36 have been measured. The resonances are predicted to occur at angular frequencies omega(K)n given by omega(K)n = (omega/K)n + beta without the presence of a buffer gas where omega is the angular frequency of the trapping radio frequency, K = 1, 2, 3... is the order of the resonance calculated with perturbation theory, and n = 0, +/-1, +/-2, +/-3.... The resonances are measured through fragmentation of protonated reserpine. The observed frequencies agree closely with the theoretical values but there are small differences which vary from +0.6% at K = 2 to -2.7% at K = 6. This is believed to be the result of the dependence of the resonant frequencies upon the buffer gas density and/or the excitation amplitude. The resolution of the resonances (measured from the depletion of precursor and formation of fragment ions) increased by a factor of 2 as K increased from 1 to 6. This increase in resolution warrants further investigation into the use of higher order resonances for isolation and excitation of trapped ions.
Collings
BA
Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Douglas
DJ