An arrangement in which ions with a desired range of quotients mass/charge are first
made to describe
stable paths under the effect of a high-frequency electric quadrupole field, and are then
separated and presented to a detector by adjusting the field so as to
selectivity induce path instability according to their respective mass/charge ratios.
Source:
PAC, 1991, 63, 1541
(Recommendations for nomenclature and symbolism for mass spectroscopy (including an
appendix of terms used in vacuum technology). (Recommendations 1991))
on page 1545