Disclosed herein are systems and methods for sorting ions including a group of multipole electrodes configured to form an ion trap, and an ion guide adjacent to, and operably coupled to the group of multipole electrodes. Using a radio frequency (RF) or Direct Current (CD) power supply device the system can apply an RF voltage to the group of multipole electrodes thereby creating a pseudo-potential barrier. A DC gradient voltage may then be applied creating an axial field in opposition to the pseudo-potential barrier. As the DC voltage is raised and/or the RF voltage is lowered, one or more ions will be eluted through the barrier.