Varying the radio frequency: A new scanning mode for quadrupole analyzers

Abstract

This paper describes a new scanning mode for quadrupole mass spectrometers. In accordance with the theoretical equations of ion motion in a quadrupolar field, an alternative method of scanning is possible varying only the RF applied to the rods of the quadrupole, keeping constant the amplitude of the AC and DC potentials. First results are reported for a RF scanning lange of 0.4-1.1 MHz and an AC amplitude of approximately 250 V.