PNNL

Abstract

The process of redirecting ions through 90o turns and ‘tee’ switches utilizing Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations (SLIM) was evaluated using theoretical and simulation methods at 4 Torr pressure. SIMION simulations were used to optimize and evaluate conditions for performing turns without loss of signal intensity or ion mobility resolving power. Fundamental considerations indicated that the “race track” effect during ion turns may incur only small losses to the ion mobility resolving power at 4 Torr pressure for the typical plume widths predicted in an optimized SLIM ‘tee’ switch design. The dynamic switching of ions into orthogonal channels was also evaluated using SIMION ion trajectory simulations, and achieved similar performance. Simulation results were in close agreement with experimental results and were used to refine SLIM designs and applied potentials for their use.