A Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) is an instrument for measuring concentrations of atoms and molecules by separating atomic and molecular ions according to their mass-to-charge ratios (m/z). It consists primarily of an ion source, quadrupole mass filter (QMF) and detector. Generally, QMF resolution can be improved by increasing the number of rf cycles of the alternating electric field the ion experiences when passing through the mass filter. In order to improve the resolution, the dimensions of the QMF or the operating parameters are to be changed. However geometric modifications to improve performance increase the manufacturing cost and usually the size of the instrument. A low cost method to increase the resolution of a given QMS is the application of magnetic field to the mass filter. The work is mainly concerned with the performance of a QMS under the influence of magnetic field. Significant improvement in QMS performance was obtained under certain magnetic field conditions, and these have been explained in terms of our theoretical model developed in the University of Liverpool. The theoretical approach assumed in the model is that the QMF contains hyperbolic rods as electrodes and that the magnetic field acts over the full length of the mass filter assembly. This model is capable of accurate simulation of spectra allowing the user to specify different values of mass spectrometer dimensions and applied input signals. The model has been upgraded for better sensitivity, and to simulate the QMF at very high number of rf cycles. Simulation and experimental results were presented for different conditions. This work also demonstrates the modeling of mass spectra of gases using the theoretical model for stability zones 1 and 3. The performance of QMF operating in stability zones 1 and 3 has been derived and a relationship between maximum obtainable resolution and scan line is obtained.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:559427 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Syed, Sarfaraz Uddin |
| Contributors | Taylor, Stephen |
| Publisher | University of Liverpool |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/5533/ |
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