An arrangement in which ions with a desired quotient mass/charge are made to describe
a
stable path under the effect of a static and a high-frequency electric quadrupole field,
and are then detected. Ions with a different mass/charge are separated from the detected
ions because of their
unstable paths.
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