Segmented linear ion trap for enhanced ion activation and storage

A method for processing ions in a linear ion trap, the method comprising:

• providing a linear ion trap defining a trapping field;
• controlling pressure in the trapping field dynamically by using a gas pulse valve;
• trapping ions in the trapping field produced by the superposition of a RF trapping field component for radial confinement of the ions and multiple DC field components for axial control of the ions;
• distributing the multiple DC field components spatially along the axis of the linear ion trap to form at least two discrete trapping regions;
• subjecting ions in a first of the at least two discrete trapping regions at at least a first potential energy level to at least a first processing step;
• and
• altering ion potential energy by switching at least a portion of the multiple DC field components collectively to facilitate further processing of ions.

A linear ion trap comprising:

• means for dynamically controlling pressure in a trapping field defined by the linear ion trap;
• means for trapping ions in the trapping field produced by the superposition of a RF trapping field component for radial confinement of the ions and multiple DC field components for axial control of the ions;
• means for distributing the multiple DC field components spatially along the axis of the linear ion trap to form at least two discrete trapping regions;
• means for subjecting ions in a first of the at least two discrete trapping regions at at least a first potential energy level to at least a first processing step;
• and
• means for altering ion potential energy by switching at least a portion of the multiple DC field components collectively to facilitate further processing of ions.