Empower Tip: Empower User Question Answered

In this tip, we will answer a question from an Empower User.

QUESTION:

Which MS spectra are averaged when setting either the Leading Edge or Trailing Edge extraction point?

Great question. Let’s see how it’s done!

The point where the leading edge or trailing edge spectra are taken is determined on the MS 3D Channel tab in the Processing Method.

In the illustration the Leading Spectra Extraction Point is set to 10%. Empower calculates the width of the front half of the peak, i.e., from peak start to the retention time. It calculates 10% of that value and then moves from peak start 10% of the way to the right. That is the point at which Empower extracts the leading-edge spectra.

A very similar calculation is done from the Trailing Edge of the peak, working from peak end towards the left.

The number of spectra to average is set on the MS Library Search tab in the Processing Method.

For example, if I set the leading extraction point to 10% and have five spectra averaged (which is the default) then Empower averages two spectra before the 10% point, the spectrum at 10% and the two spectra after the 10% point.

It’s that easy!