Paul's trap device
Ion trapping techniques

As a rule, primary ions are created by electron bombardment inside the experimental device. Any other method can be used: photoionization, photodissociation with pair formation, collision with Rydberg atoms to form negative ions, Penning-type collision, laser ionization, etc.

The three most widely used ion creation methods today are electrospray ionization (ESI), Atmospheric Pressure Interface-Electrospray Ionization (API) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) [1] .

Once created, the ions are subjected to collisions with the buffer gas, usually helium, allowing them to dissipate the kinetic energy acquired during fragmentation, or the...