Ion detection by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance: the effect of initial radial velocity on the coherent ion packet.

Ion detection by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) is accomplished by observing a coherent ion packet produced from an initially random ensemble of ions. The coherent packet is formed by excitation with a resonant oscillating electric field. Ions that are out of phase with the applied radio frequency (rf) electric field experience a continuous misalignment of the electric field vector. The misalignment creates a net force of the electric field perpendicular to ion motion. The perpendicular component of the rf electric field creates a frequency shift resulting in phase synchronization of the ion ensemble. The phase coherence of the ion packet affects both the sensitivity and the resolution of FT-ICR.