TherMIDAS: An Integrated Data Acquisition System for FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry

Over 30 years ago, the Modular ICR Data Acquisition System (MIDAS) was assembled, developed, and deployed on the then-new Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) instruments at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. The system was based on National Instruments electronics and software, with interface electronics and control code built and written in-house. Capable of controlling all aspects of FT-ICR MS data acquisition and data processing, the system formed the basis of MagLab instrument control for the following three decades. Here, we report on recent progress in data acquisition and analysis capabilities, motivated by the coupling of an Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer to the 14.5 and 21 T FT-ICR instruments. The new system is based on more recent National Instruments PXIe control boards, and leverages and extends the vendor instrument control hardware and software for a seamless integration of the FT-ICR MS instrumentation with the Eclipse front-end. The entire instrument is controlled from Tribrid Series Tune, Method Editor, and Xcalibur software. All mass analyzers, including the ICR analyzer, can be operated in parallel, exploiting the existing Tribrid architecture, and resulting in duty cycle improvements over previous implementations.