Influence of Geometrical Asymmetry on the Performance of a Digitally Driven Quadrupole Mass Filter

IF 1.8 3区化学 Q4 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry Pub Date : 2026-09-24 DOI:10.1002/rcm.70190

Brotin Taraphdar, Sukanya Jana, Pintu Mandal, Nabanita Deb

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Rationale

Digital (rectangular-wave) mode has emerged as an attractive alternative to conventional sinusoidal operation in quadrupole mass filters because of its simplified electronics and enhanced operational flexibility. However, the influence of geometrical imperfections on digitally driven quadrupole mass filters and the resulting consequences for ion transmission and mass resolving power remain largely unexplored.

Methods

The transmission characteristics of a digitally driven quadrupole mass filter operating in the first stability zone were investigated using SIMION simulations. Controlled radial asymmetry was introduced through single-rod radius variation, single-rod displacement, diagonal rod-pair radius variation, and diagonal rod-pair displacement. Stability, transmission characteristics, and resolving power were evaluated for different degrees of asymmetry and for both initial high and low states of the applied rectangular waveform.

Results

Radial asymmetry consistently degraded transmission efficiency and mass resolving power in all four asymmetric configurations, demonstrating the detrimental influence of geometry-induced higher order spatial harmonic field components. In addition, the performance was found to depend strongly on the initial state of the applied RF pulse, with significant changes in transmission profiles, peak widths, and resolving power. Under single-rod radius variation, the transmission peak splits for a specific initial pulse state and is correlated with a bifurcation of the stability region.

Conclusions

Geometrical asymmetry systematically degrades the performance of digitally driven quadrupole mass filters, while the initial pulse state introduces an additional operational parameter that influences transmission and resolving power. These findings establish practical constraints on maintaining symmetry in both rod geometry and spatial positioning, as well as on synchronizing ion injection with the driving RF pulse, and provide new insight into the interplay between higher order multipole fields and digital QMF operation.

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几何不对称对数字驱动四极质量滤波器性能的影响。

原理：数字（矩形波）模式已经成为四极质量滤波器中传统正弦操作的一个有吸引力的替代方案，因为它简化了电子设备，提高了操作灵活性。然而，几何缺陷对数字驱动的四极质量滤波器的影响以及由此产生的离子传输和质量分辨能力的影响在很大程度上仍未被探索。方法：采用SIMION仿真方法，对运行在第一稳定区的数字驱动四极质量滤波器的传输特性进行了研究。通过单杆半径变化、单杆位移、对角杆副半径变化和对角杆副位移引入可控径向不对称。稳定性、传输特性和分辨能力评估了不同程度的不对称和应用矩形波形的初始高和低状态。结果：在所有四种不对称结构中，径向不对称都持续降低传输效率和质量分辨能力，表明几何诱导的高阶空间谐波分量的有害影响。此外，发现性能强烈依赖于应用射频脉冲的初始状态，在传输曲线，峰宽和分辨能力方面有显着变化。在单杆半径变化下，传输峰在特定初始脉冲状态下发生分裂，并与稳定区的分岔相关。结论：几何不对称系统地降低了数字驱动的四极质量滤波器的性能，而初始脉冲状态引入了一个额外的操作参数，影响传输和分辨率。这些发现确立了在棒状结构和空间定位上保持对称性的实际约束，以及在离子注入与驱动射频脉冲同步方面的实际约束，并为高阶多极场与数字QMF操作之间的相互作用提供了新的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 化学-分析化学

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

5.00%

发文量

219

审稿时长

2.6 months

期刊介绍： Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry is a journal whose aim is the rapid publication of original research results and ideas on all aspects of the science of gas-phase ions; it covers all the associated scientific disciplines. There is no formal limit on paper length ("rapid" is not synonymous with "brief"), but papers should be of a length that is commensurate with the importance and complexity of the results being reported. Contributions may be theoretical or practical in nature; they may deal with methods, techniques and applications, or with the interpretation of results; they may cover any area in science that depends directly on measurements made upon gaseous ions or that is associated with such measurements.