Perturbation ion mobility mass spectrometry and the method of measuring ion mobility of selected ions

A perturbation ion mobility mass spectrometer method for analyzing ion populations, comprising:

• directing a continuous gas phase ion beam comprised of a plurality of ions into an entrance of a drift tube configured within an ion mobility spectrometer;
• perturbing the flow of the continuous gas phase ion beam within a perturbation time range so as to cause one or more configured perturbations of the continuous gas phase ion beam;
• configuring the drift tube to allow the one or more perturbations to separate due to the differences in mobilities of the plurality of ions;
• receiving the plurality of ions and the one or more perturbations at the entrance of a mass spectrometer;
• recording raw data indicative of the plurality of ions that are received by the mass spectrometer that comprises:
• a mass to charge ratio of the plurality of ions, an intensity change of the plurality of ions caused by the one or more perturbations, and the arrival times of the one or more perturbations;
• and
• reconstructing the raw data to obtain one or more mass to charge and one or more ion mobility spectrum of the plurality of ions.