Rotating-radio-frequency ion traps

Published

October 20, 2005

Author(s)

T Hasegawa, John J. Bollinger

Abstract

We propose a new ion trap, the rotating-rf trap, in which motion of a charged particle is described not by Mathieu-type functions but by trigonometric functions. In the rotating-rf trap, a quadrupole electric field confines charged particles, whereas in a normal rf trap, an oscillating quadrupole field does. Ion motion in a rotating-rf trap is a superposition of two non-degenerate circular motions and two corresponding circular micromotions. The cases of applying a uniform magnetic field and a quadrupole dc electric field in addition to the rotating rf field are also discussed. Confinement in a rotating field can be tighter than in a normal linear rf trap with the same experimental parameter values.

Citation

Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

Volume

72

Issue

043403

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

ion traps, mass spectroscopy, Mathieu functions, micromotion, Paul traps, rf traps, rotating rf traps, secular motion, stability diagram

Citation

Hasegawa, T. and Bollinger, J. (2005), Rotating-radio-frequency ion traps, Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics), [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50171 (Accessed October 8, 2025)