Time of flight mass spectrometer control unit applying a dynamic potential different between at least two electrodes of an ion gate

A time of flight (“TOF”) mass spectrometer having:

• an ion source;
• a detector;
• an ion gate positioned on a path extending between the ion source and the detector;
• a variable voltage unit;
• and
• a control unit;
• wherein the control unit is configured to control the TOF mass spectrometer to perform at least one acquisition cycle that includes:
• operating the ion source to produce and emit ions having a plurality of mass/charge (m/z) values so that ions having different m/z values follow the path extending between the ion source and the detector and reach the detector at different times;
• operating the detector to produce an output current representative of ions having different m/z values reaching the detector;
• operating the variable voltage unit to apply a dynamic potential difference between at least two electrodes of the ion gate during the acquisition cycle so that a magnitude of the potential difference applied between the at least two electrodes varies within the acquisition cycle;
• wherein the dynamic potential difference is configured so that, within the/each acquisition cycle;
• a first potential difference is applied between the at least two electrodes of the ion gate by the variable voltage unit such that the ion gate is in a first state at a first time, when ions having a first m/z value are passing through the ion gate;
• and
• a second potential difference is applied between the at least two electrodes of the ion gate by the variable voltage unit such that the ion gate is in a second state at a second time that is later than the first time, when ions having a second m/z value are passing through the ion gate;
• wherein at least one of the first and second states of the ion gate is an intermediate state in which the ion gate deflects the ions passing through the ion gate such that some but not all of the ions passing through the ion gate are deflected by the ion gate so as to miss the detector, being thereby prevented from reaching the detector such that they are not detected, and such other ions among said ions passing through the ion gate simultaneously are deflected by the ion gate so as to not miss the detector, being thereby permitted to reach the detector such that they are detected.