Spherical Ion Trap and Trapping Ions

A spherical ion trap includes a substrate and an ion aperture; two RF electrodes in electrostatic communication with an ion trapping region; RF ground electrodes in electrostatic communication with the ion trapping region; and the ion trapping region bounded by opposing RF electrodes and the RF ground electrodes, such that: the ion trapping region is disposed within the ion aperture and receives ions that are selectively trapped in the ion trapping region in response to receipt of DC and RF voltages by the RF electrodes, and receipt of the DC voltages by RF ground electrodes, and the first RF electrode, the second RF electrode, the RF ground electrodes, and the ion trapping region are disposed in the same plane within the ion aperture.