Off-resonance energy absorption in a linear Paul trap due to mass selective resonant quenching

Abstract

Linear Paul r.f. ion traps (LPT) are used in many experimental studies such as mass spectrometry, atom-ion collisions and ion-molecule reactions. Mass selective resonant quenching (MSRQ) is implemented in LPT either to identify a charged particle's mass or to remove unwanted ions from a controlled experimental environment. In the latter case, MSRQ can introduce undesired heating to co-trapped ions of different mass, whose secular motion is off resonance with the quenching ac field, which we call off-resonance energy absorption (OREA). We present simulations and experimental evidence that show that the OREA increases exponentially with the number of ions loaded into the trap and with the amplitude of the off-resonance external ac field.