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

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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 27, 2025)