Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Application ID: 10653


The principle component of a quadrupole mass spectrometer is the mass filter which is used to filter ions with different charge to mass ratios. The quadrupole mass filter has been well studied over the years, Ref. 1 and the physics and optimal design are well understood. In a real quadrupole mass spectrometer, fringe fields exist at both the entrance and exit of the mass filter. These fringe fields can play an important role in determining the transmission probability of a specific ion through the mass filter. This model computes the ion trajectories in a quadrupole mass spectrometer, including the effects of fringe fields. This model uses the Electrostatics, Electric Currents, and Charged Particle Tracing interfaces.

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: