Determination of E/N Influence on K Values within the Low Field Region of Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

The established theory of ion motion within weak electric fields predicts that reduced ion mobility (K) remains constant as a function of the ratio of electric field strength to drift gas number density (E/N). However, upon increasing the accuracy and precision of K value measurements during a previous study, a new relationship was seen in which the K values of ions decreased as a function of increasing E/N at field strengths below 4 Td. Here the effect of E/N on the K value of an ion has been investigated in order to validate the reality of the phenomenon and determine its cause. The pertinent measurements of voltage and drift time were verified in order to ensure the authenticity of the trend and that it was not a result of a systematic error in parametric measurements. The trend was also replicated on a separate ion mobility spectrometer drift tube in order to further validate its authenticity. As a result, the theory of ion motion within weak electric fields should be revised to reflect the behavior seen here.