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Why the ion trap is called quadrupole
Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 5:16 pm
by Ricardinio
I would like to understand what in the design or the functioning of the ion trap referes to "QUADRUPOLE"?
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 1:56 pm
by MG
The mathematics governing the two analyzers (quadrupole and quadrupolar ion trap) are similar. The difference is that with the quad, the ions are always unbounded with respect to the z-axis.
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:39 pm
by Ricardinio
In fact, I thought that quadrupole in the quadr instrument referes to the four rods with different polarities
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 1:35 pm
by MG
Ricardinio, I think you are correct as to the source of the name. However, many of the commerically available ion traps are based upon the Paul trap, which is also known as a quadrupolar ion trap. To my knowledge, it is called "quadrupolar" because the mathematics governing the motion of ions in the Paul trap is similar to that in the quadrupole (four rods) analyzer.
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 8:10 pm
by JI2002
Maybe it's better to say physics in Quadrupole Ion Trap is similar to Quadrupole MS.