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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1996  > December  >
Research: Science and Education
Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers: An Intuitive Look at the Math
James J. Leary and Rebecca L. Schmidt
Department of Chemistry, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Cover
December 1996
Vol. 73 No. 12
p. 1142
Abstract
The equations that describe ion trajectories within quadrupole mass spectrometers are examined as certain limiting conditions are approached. At these limits the simplified forms of the equations can be examined at the intuitive level. This approach circumvents the need to solve a challenging differential equation, but still provides chemists with a basis for understanding how operating parameters are varied to obtain spectra. The approach used complements a prior publication in this Journal that intuitively examined the physics associated with the design and operation of quadrupoles. In addition, a set of mathematical examples related to the operation of quadrupoles is provided that: 1) establishes the relationship between the ac and dc potentials that must be maintained, 2) examines the relationship between instrumental parameters and the mass of the singly charged ions traversing the quadrupole, and 3) illustrates the logic associated with how systematically varying the ac and dc potentials produces a mass spectrum.
More Information
*  Citation
 Leary, James J.; Schmidt, Rebecca L. J. Chem. Educ. 1996 73 1142.
*  Keywords
 Mass Spectrometry
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 August 5, 1999
February 21, 2006
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