An arrangement in which ions with a desired quotient mass/charge are made to describe a stable path under the effect of a static and a high-frequency electric quadrupole field, and are then detected. Ions with a different mass/charge are separated from the detected ions because of their unstable paths.
Sources:
Orange Book, 2nd ed., p. 202 (https://media.iupac.org/publications/analytical_compendium/)
PAC, 1991, 63, 1541. 'Recommendations for nomenclature and symbolism for mass spectroscopy (including an appendix of terms used in vacuum technology). (Recommendations 1991)' on page 1545 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199163101541)