Generation and detection of coherent magnetron motion in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry at the Cyclotron Frequency

The phenomenon of ion cyclotron resonance allows for determining mass-to-charge ratio, m/z, of an ensemble of ions by means of measurements of their cyclotron frequency, ω _c . In Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), the ω _c quantity is usually unavailable for direct measurements: the resonant state is located close to the reduced cyclotron frequency (ω₊), whereas the ω _c and the corresponding m/z values may be calculated via theoretical derivation from an experimental estimate of the ω₊ quantity. Here, we describe an experimental observation of a new resonant state, which is located close to the ω _c frequency and is established because of azimuthally-dependent trapping electric fields of the recently developed ICR cells with narrow aperture detection electrodes. We show that in mass spectra, peaks close to ω₊ frequencies can be reduced to negligible levels relative to peaks close to ω _c frequencies. Due to reduced errors with which the ω _c quantity is obtained, the new resonance provides a means of cyclotron frequency measurements with precision greater than that achieved when ω₊ frequency peaks are employed. The described phenomenon may be considered for a development into an FT-ICR MS technology with increased mass accuracy for applications in basic research, life, and environmental sciences. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Tracking the Magnetron Motion in FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry

In Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) the ion magnetron motion is not usually directly measured, yet its contribution to the performance of the FT-ICR cell is important. Its presence is manifested primarily by the appearance of even-numbered harmonics in the spectra. In this work, the relationship between the ion magnetron motion in the ICR cell and the intensities of the second harmonic signal and its sideband peak in the FT-ICR spectrum is studied. Ion motion simulations show that during a cyclotron motion excitation of ions which are offset to the cell axis, a position-dependent radial drift of the cyclotron center takes place. This radial drift can be directed outwards if the ion is initially offset towards one of the detection electrodes, or it can be directed inwards if the ion is initially offset towards one of the excitation electrodes. Consequently, a magnetron orbit diameter can increase or decrease during a resonant cyclotron excitation. A method has been developed to study this behavior of the magnetron motion by acquiring a series of FT-ICR spectra using varied post-capture delay (PCD) time intervals. PCD is the delay time after the capture of the ions in the cell before the cyclotron excitation of the ion is started. Plotting the relative intensity of the second harmonic sideband peak versus the PCD in each mass spectrum leads to an oscillating "PCD curve". The position and height of minima and maxima of this curve can be used to interpret the size and the position of the magnetron orbit. Ion motion simulations show that an off-axis magnetron orbit generates even-numbered harmonic peaks with sidebands at a distance of one magnetron frequency and multiples of it. This magnetron offset is due to a radial offset of the electric field axis versus the geometric cell axis. In this work, we also show how this offset of the radial electric field center can be corrected by applying appropriate DC correction voltages to the mantle electrodes of the ICR cell while observing the signals of the second harmonic peak group. The field correction leads to a definite performance increase in terms of resolving power and mass accuracy, and the mass spectrum contains intensity-minimized even-numbered harmonics. This is very important in the case of high performance cells, particularly the dynamically harmonized cell, since the magnetron motion can severely impair the averaging effect for dynamic harmonization and can therefore reduce the resolving power.

Fourier transform mass spectrometry-advancing years (1992-mid. 1996)

This article is one of a series of Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) reviews that has appeared in this journal at ca. 3-4 year intervals. A comprehensive review of the recent theoretical developments, instrumental developments, electrospray ionization (ESI), and MALDI is given. Ion dissociation techniques are also discussed because of their contributions to gaining insight into chemical structure. Special sections have been devoted to discussing the emerging fields of surface analysis, polymer analysis, Buckminsterfullerenes (buckyballs), and hydrogen/deuterium exchange studies. This review, although not all-inclusive, is intended to be a starting point for those wishing to learn more about the current status of FTMS, and also as a representative cross-section of the literature for those familiar with the technique. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Simplified application of quadrupolar excitation in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

A new method for application of quadrupolar excitation to the trapped ion cell of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer is presented. Quadrupolar excitation is conventionally applied to the two pairs of opposed electrodes that normally perform the excitation and detection functions in the FTICR experiment. Symmetry arguments and numerically calculated isopotential contours within the trapped ion cell lead to the conclusion that quadrupolar excitation can be applied to a single pair of opposed side electrodes. Examples of effective quadrupolar axialization via this method include a sevenfold signal-to-noise enhancement derived from 50 remeasurements of a single population of trapped bovine insulin ions and the selective isolation of a single charge state of horse heart myoglobin after an initial measurement that revealed the presence of 14 charge states.

Bio-affinity characterization mass spectrometry

A new approach, bio-affinity characterization mass spectrometry (BACMS), aimed at providing a more rapid, sensitive and potentially more flexible alternative to techniques presently employed for the characterization of noncovalent interactions in mixtures, such as would be encountered in combinatorial chemistry, in presented. BACMS avoids some of the difficulties and potential artifacts associated with affinity chromatography since the noncovalent associations occur in solution; thus, BACMS avoids the requirement of solid support media and the development of non-interfering linker species. This paper describes the conceptual basis for the methodology and its potential use in applications which include the screening of high affinity ligands in support of new drug development. BACMS exploits new Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry technologies which, when coupled to electrospray ionization (ESI), allow the investigation of specific noncovalent complexes formed in solution. BACMS utilizes the well-known attributes of FTICR, such as the high resolution mass analysis and (MS)n (n > or = 2) capabilities; however, it is even more directly a result of recently developed techniques involving quadrupolar excitation, such as selected-ion accumulation. These tools are demonstrated and the results illustrate the extraordinary sensitivity achievable (solution concentration of 1 x 10-9 M without the use of separations prior to ESI). Thus, the new capabilities demonstrated here, in conjunction with ESI, will be useful for the investigation of very low relative concentration noncovalent association directly from solution, and promote a faster alternative for combinatorial mixture screening and analysis.

Selective parent ion axialization for improved efficiency of collision-induced dissociation in laser desorption-ionization fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

We have systematically established the excitation frequency, amplitude, duration, and buffer gas pressure for optimal axialization efficiency and mass selectivity of quadrupolar excitation-collisional cooling for isolation of parent ions for collision-induced dissociation in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. For example, at high quadrupolar excitation amplitude, ion axialization efficiency and selectivity are optimal when the applied quadrupolar excitation frequency is lower than the unperturbed ion cyclotron frequency by up to several hundred hertz. Moreover, at high buffer gas pressure (10(-6) Torr), quadrupolar excitation duration can be quite short because of efficient collisional cooling of the cyclotron motion produced by magnetron-to-cyclotron conversion. Efficiency, detected signal magnitude, and mass resolving power for collision-induced dissociation (CID) product ions are significantly enhanced by prior parent ion axialization. With this method, we use argon CID to show that C 94 (+) (m/z 1128) formed by Nd:YAG laser desorption-ionization behaves as a closed-cage structure.