quadrupole mass filter


quadrupole mass filter

A term of art used in mass spectrometry for a specific combination of direct current (DC) and radiofrequency (RF) voltages which, when applied to four parallel metal rods, creates a filtering device that limits the transmission of ions to a certain defined m/z value. Changing the ratio of the voltages changes the m/z value of ions that pass through to the detector. The quadrupole mass filter can also be operated in other modes, such as passing a mass range of ions to the detector. If only the RF portion of the voltage is applied to the rods, virtually all ions pass to the detector.