Realistic modeling of ion-neutral collisions in quadrupole ion traps

In this study, three ion-neutral collision models have been discussed and compared, including the Langevin, the hard-sphere and the mixed collision models. With the pseudo-potential approximation, analytical expressions of ion secular motions with the hard-sphere and mixed collision models have been obtained for the first time. Through numerical simulations and theoretical calculations, it is found that the mixed collision model could be used as a general description of ion-neutral collisions under different conditions. Langevin collision model is a good description of low energy collisions between small ions and neutrals, while hard-sphere collision model could be used to describe high energy collisions and/or ions with higher masses (larger physical sizes). These analytical expressions of ion motion decay profiles enable the creation of direct relationships between time-domain image currents with ion collision cross sections.