Novel multi-reflecting electrostatic traps for high resolution mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) is probably one of the most important analytical tools of the last few decades, with uses across all of the sciences from security to fighting cancer. Commercially available high-resolution mass analyzers serving the life science community are dominated by two distinct but related technologies. The first types are electrostatic traps (Orbitraps) that confine ions for relatively long timescales of the order of a second. In these instruments ions are inductively detected and the resulting transient is processed by Fourier Transform to yield the mass spectrum. The second types are orthogonal acceleration Time-of-Flight analyzers (oa-TOFs) whereby ions are brought to an isochronous plane and detected destructively by an electron multiplier or similar. TOF separation occurs on rapid timescales of the order of tens or hundreds of microseconds but these devices typically operate at somewhat lower resolution than their slower electrostatic trapping counterparts.

The possibility of hybrid devices, attaining the resolution of an oritrap with the fast measurement time of an oa-TOF machine, is a new and highly exciting research area. A major step was made when a ‘Spiro-TOF’ was proposed and studied in the University of Manchester. In this machine an orbitrap field is used to make a destructive measurement TOF mass analyser with a longer time of flight, thus gaining high resolution. This development was initiated by the industrial partner of this proposal (Waters) and developed by the academic partner of this proposal in conjunction with Waters, combining the expertise of the latter in charged particle dynamics with the skills of former.

In this project, the student will explore the possibility of true hybrid devices, and develop a multi-reflecting trap based on the Spiro-TOF which would offer the advantages of both TOF and orbi-trap devices. They will build on the initial work on the Spiro-TOF, to demonstrate that it can be re-optimised to work in an inductive detector configuration, with the transient collected over a shorter timescale than the orbitrap device. The advantage of the device would be a high resolution coupled with a fast measurement time. Such a device, with the high resolution and fast measurement time, has never been built before and this project would produce viable machine geometry and prepare the ground for a device prototype. The impact of such as device would be large, as the Worldwide market for mass spectrometry is believed to be in excess of $3.0 billion per annum, with the most significant share being apportioned to the life sciences. The applications of MS are pushing what is possible in terms of measurement time and resolution, which is addressed by this project.

The student would develop the concept and design to the point where a prototype will be constructed, backed up the engineering expertise of Waters and the machining capability of the university. This output would be a novel, first of a kind hybrid mass analyzer with far reaching impact.The student will perform experimental work in the growing university mass spectrometry lab, working on a time of flight machine denoted by Waters and develop expertise in using a particle accelerator.

Training and expertise in charged particle beam dynamics, particle accelerators, mass spectrometer design and precision engineering are a very desirable skills both in industrial R&D and mass spectrometry end user environments. The student will be exposed to the industry through the industrial partner and their collaborators.