Ion Source Interface; Tube Lens - Thermo Scientific TSQ Series Hardware Manual

2
Functional Description
Mass Spectrometer

Ion Source Interface

The ion source interface consists of the components of the API source that are held under vacuum
(except for the atmospheric pressure side of the ion sweep cone). The ion source interface includes
an ion transfer tube, two cartridge heaters, a heater block, a platinum probe sensor, a vent prevent
ball, and an ion sweep cone. See
Figure 14. Cross-sectional view of the ion source interface, Q00 ion optics, and Q0 ion optics of the TSQ Quantum Access
and TSQ Quantum Ultra

Tube lens

Skimmer
Lens L0
Q0 quadrupole
The ion transfer tube assists in desolvating ions that are produced by the API probe. The tube is an
elongated, 4-in. (on the TSQ Quantum Access and TSQ Quantum Ultra) or 2.3-in. (on the TSQ
Vantage) cylindrical metal tube. See
block. The heater block surrounds the ion transfer tube and heats it to temperatures up to 400 °C.
A platinum probe sensor measures the temperature of the heater block. Typical temperatures of the
ion transfer tube are 270 °C for ESI and 250 °C for APCI, but these temperatures vary with flow
rate and mobile phase composition. A decreasing pressure gradient draws ions into the ion transfer
tube in the atmospheric pressure region and transports them to the ion transfer tube-skimmer
region of the vacuum manifold. A potential of typically ±35 V (positive for positive ions and
negative for negative ions) assists in repelling ions from the ion transfer tube to the skimmer.
22 TSQ Series Hardware Manual
Figure 14.
Ion transfer
tube
Q00 rf lens
Figure 15. Two heater cartridges are embedded in the heater
Heater Vent prevent
block ball
Ion sweep
cone
Front
Thermo Scientific