Optimizing quadrupole collision cell RF amplitude for tandem mass spectrometry

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• an ion source configured to produce a plurality of ions from a sample or calibration source;
• a first radio frequency mass filter configured to select parent ions from the plurality of ions;
• a collision cell including a plurality of electrodes configured to generate pseudopotential well through the application of radio frequency potentials to the electrodes, the collision cell configured to generate a plurality of fragment ions from the parent ions by colliding the parent ions with one or more gas molecules;
• a second radio frequency mass filters to select target fragment ions from the plurality of fragment ions;
• a collision cell entrance lens between the first radio frequency mass filter and the collision cell,
• a collision cell exit lens between the collision cell and the second radio frequency mass filter;
• and
• a system controller configured to:
• set a radio frequency amplitude of the radio frequency potentials to a default amplitude;
• monitoring the production of a target fragment ion while adjusting a potential gradient;
• set the potential gradient to optimize the production of the target fragment ion;
• apply a linear full range ramp to the radio frequency amplitude to determine an optimal radio frequency amplitude;
• and
• set the radio frequency amplitude to the optimal radio frequency amplitude for the parent ion, target fragment ion pair.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a collision cell including a plurality of electrodes configured to generate pseudopotential well through the application of radio frequency potentials to the electrodes, the collision cell configured to generate a target fragment from a parent ion by colliding the parent ion with one or more gas molecules;
• a system controller configured to:
• set a radio frequency amplitude of the radio frequency potentials to a default amplitude;
• monitor the production of a target fragment ions while adjusting at least two of a potential gradient, the radio frequency amplitude, and a collision energy;
• perform a multidimensional optimization of at least two of the radio frequency amplitude, a potential gradient, and a collision energy
• set the potential gradient to optimize the production of the target fragment ion;
• set the radio frequency amplitude, the collision energy, and the potential gradient to the optimal values for the parent ion, target fragment ion pair.