Mass Displacements In Quadrupolar Field Analyzers

The influence of different instrumental parameters on the mass displacements observed in an ion trap and a quadrupole mass filter was investigated. In ion trap measurements it was observed that isolated ions (obtained by both 'apex' and 'two-step' isolation methods) show the same mass displacements determined in the usual mass spectra; isobaric ions of different structure irradiated with supplementary a.c. fields are ejected at different a.c. voltages, and different cooling times do not affect the mass value. In the quadrupole mass filter, differences in mass were found among isobaric ions of different structure, although to a smaller extent than those observed in the ion trap. All the data obtained are in agreement with the hypothesis of ion-r.f. field interactions originating from the polarizability of the ion.