Spectral shape of <i>in situ</i> mass spectra of sympathetically cooled molecular ions

Abstract

We formulated a model to reproduce the spectral shape of in situ mass spectra of sympathetically cooled molecular ions trapped in a linear radio-frequency-quadrupole. The molecular ions are sympathetically cooled by laser cooled ions. The mass spectrum is obtained by observing fluorescence emitted from the laser-cooled ions as we excite the resonant motion of the sympathetically cooled molecular ions in the trap. The model, which uses a pseudopotential and space-charge approach, reproduces the mass spectra of molecules. The model suggests that the variation of the space-charge density of the laser-cooled ions can produce in-trap kinetic excitation without the loss of the excited ions from the trap.