Extending the Ion Capacity of a Linear Ion Trap Using Nonlinear Radio Frequency Fields.

Mass selective axial ejection (MSAE) from a low pressure linear ion trap (LIT) is investigated in the presence of added auxiliary nonlinear radio frequency (rf) fields. Nonlinear rf fields allow ions to be ejected with high sensitivity at large excitation amplitudes and reduced deleterious effects of space charge. These permit the operation of the LIT at ion populations considerably larger than the space charge limit usually observed in the absence of the nonlinear fields while maintaining good spectral resolution and mass accuracy. Experimental data show that the greater the strength of the nonlinear field, the less the effects of space charge on mass assignment and peak width. The only deleterious effect is a slight broadening of the mass spectral peaks at the highest values of added nonlinear fields used. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.