Space charge effect

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-011068",
  "term": "Space charge effect",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A phenomenon in mass spectrometry where the accumulation of ions in a confined region, such as an ion trap, leads to electrostatic repulsion between them. This repulsion can alter ion trajectories, reduce trapping efficiency, and cause shifts in observed mass-to-charge ratios. It becomes more pronounced at higher ion densities, affecting the performance of instruments like quadrupole ion traps.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "ion trap"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2013, 85, 1515. 'Definitions of terms relating to mass spectrometry (IUPAC Recommendations 2013)' on page 1591 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/space-charge-effect/"
}