Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Physics Conference Series

A cryogenic Paul Trap for Highly Charged Ions and Molecular Ions

Maria Schwarz, J. R. Crespo López-Urrutia, Franziska R Brunner, Tim Ballance, Michael Drewsen, Piet O. Schmidt, J. Ullrich

Published Nov 5, 2012• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

A cryogenic Paul trap adapted for sympathetic cooling of molecular and highly charged ions (HCIs) has been built to investigate molecular chemistry and to perform laser spectroscopy of cooled HCI.
DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/388/12/122005

Related papers

Highly efficient sympathetic cooling and charge state estimation of highly charged ions in a linear Paul trap

Lijun Du, Y.S. Meng, Jinshu Lu +3 more

International Journal of Mass Spectrometry•Nov 14, 2021•1 citation

Cold Trapped Molecular Ions

Roth Bernhard

One of the current themes in quantum physics is the creation of cold ( 1 K) molecules to study molecule-molecule, molecule-atom, and molecule-radiation interactions under these novel low-temperature conditions. This book highlights the field of cold trapped molecular ions. In particular, the development of a novel, universal cooling method for charged particles, sympathetic cooling using laser-cooled atoms, together with the experimental and computational techniques required are extensively reviewed. The book also reviews first spectacular applications of the cold ion ensembles produced: the study of the properties of cold non-neutral plasmas, the study of ion-neutral chemical reactions and of photodissociation processes, and high-resolution rotational overtone spectroscopy of cold hydrogen molecular ions with unprecedented spectral resolution. The large potential of this field of research and its possible impact to other fields of physics, chemistry, and biology are highlighted. The book summarizes the main lines of research in cold trapped molecular ion physics, thus, making it useful as an introduction for advanced students and experienced researchers.

VDM Verlag Dr. Mller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG eBooks•Apr 4, 2008•0 citations

Coulomb crystals in a cryogenic Paul trap for sympathetic cooling of molecular ions and highly charged ions

A. Windberger, M. Schwarz, Oscar O. Versolato +11 more

Electron beam ion traps used for spectroscopy of highly charged ions (HCI) produce a deep trapping potential leading to high temperatures of the stored ions, and thus limiting the achievable spectral resolution. A novel device at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, the Cryogenic linear Paul Trap Experiment (CryPTEx), attached to an electron beam ion trap, provides a new experimental platform to overcome these limitations. The trap assembly operates at a temperature of 4 K and offers optical access for quantum manipulation and imaging of the trapped ions. Since forbidden optical transitions in HCI do not support direct laser cooling, sympathetic cooling with Coulomb crystals of singly charged ions such as Be+ or Mg+ will be applied in order to reach the natural linewidth of optical forbidden transitions in HCI of interest. With the added advantage of long ion trapping times resulting from residual gas pressures of H2 at 4 K below 10−15 mbar, CryPTEx has been commissioned in collaboration with the Ion Trap Group in Århus using rovibrationally cooled MgH+ ions. Strong suppression of the black body radiation at the trap center, ion storage times of about 28 hours, and largely enhanced population of the rovibrational ground state were achieved.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2013•4 citations

Cryogenic linear Paul trap for cold highly charged ion experiments

M. Schwarz, Oscar O. Versolato, A. Windberger +9 more

Storage and cooling of highly charged ions require ultra-high vacuum levels obtainable by means of cryogenic methods. We have developed a linear Paul trap operating at 4 K capable of very long ion storage times of about 30 h. A conservative upper bound of the H(2) partial pressure of about 10(-15) mbar (at 4 K) is obtained from this. External ion injection is possible and optimized optical access for lasers is provided, while exposure to black body radiation is minimized. First results of its operation with atomic and molecular ions are presented. An all-solid state laser system at 313 nm has been set up to provide cold Be(+) ions for sympathetic cooling of highly charged ions.

Review of Scientific Instruments•Aug 1, 2012•76 citations

Sympathetic cooling and detection of molecular ions in a Penning trap

Martijn A. van Eijkelenborg, M.E.M Storkey, D. M. Segal +1 more

We have trapped and sympathetically cooled the molecular ions ${\mathrm{HCO}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}{\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ in a Penning trap. Through their Coulomb interaction with laser-cooled ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$ ions the molecules were sympathetically cooled to cryogenic temperatures. We identify the molecules through a measurement of their characteristic mass-dependent breathing mode frequencies. From a measurement of the temperature of the ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$ ions we estimate that the final temperature of the sympathetically cooled molecules is 4 K.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1999•44 citations

Sympathetic cooling of gaseous ions confined in a linear paul trap

T. J. Harmon

Bibliography: p. 57-60

•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations
One of the current themes in quantum physics is the creation of cold ( 1 K) molecules to study molecule-molecule, molecule-atom, and molecule-radiation interactions under these novel low-temperature conditions. This book highlights the field of cold trapped molecular ions. In particular, the development of a novel, universal cooling method for charged particles, sympathetic cooling using laser-cooled atoms, together with the experimental and computational techniques required are extensively reviewed. The book also reviews first spectacular applications of the cold ion ensembles produced: the study of the properties of cold non-neutral plasmas, the study of ion-neutral chemical reactions and of photodissociation processes, and high-resolution rotational overtone spectroscopy of cold hydrogen molecular ions with unprecedented spectral resolution. The large potential of this field of research and its possible impact to other fields of physics, chemistry, and biology are highlighted. The book summarizes the main lines of research in cold trapped molecular ion physics, thus, making it useful as an introduction for advanced students and experienced researchers.
Electron beam ion traps used for spectroscopy of highly charged ions (HCI) produce a deep trapping potential leading to high temperatures of the stored ions, and thus limiting the achievable spectral resolution. A novel device at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, the Cryogenic linear Paul Trap Experiment (CryPTEx), attached to an electron beam ion trap, provides a new experimental platform to overcome these limitations. The trap assembly operates at a temperature of 4 K and offers optical access for quantum manipulation and imaging of the trapped ions. Since forbidden optical transitions in HCI do not support direct laser cooling, sympathetic cooling with Coulomb crystals of singly charged ions such as Be+ or Mg+ will be applied in order to reach the natural linewidth of optical forbidden transitions in HCI of interest. With the added advantage of long ion trapping times resulting from residual gas pressures of H2 at 4 K below 10−15 mbar, CryPTEx has been commissioned in collaboration with the Ion Trap Group in Århus using rovibrationally cooled MgH+ ions. Strong suppression of the black body radiation at the trap center, ion storage times of about 28 hours, and largely enhanced population of the rovibrational ground state were achieved.
Storage and cooling of highly charged ions require ultra-high vacuum levels obtainable by means of cryogenic methods. We have developed a linear Paul trap operating at 4 K capable of very long ion storage times of about 30 h. A conservative upper bound of the H(2) partial pressure of about 10(-15) mbar (at 4 K) is obtained from this. External ion injection is possible and optimized optical access for lasers is provided, while exposure to black body radiation is minimized. First results of its operation with atomic and molecular ions are presented. An all-solid state laser system at 313 nm has been set up to provide cold Be(+) ions for sympathetic cooling of highly charged ions.
We have trapped and sympathetically cooled the molecular ions HCO+{\mathrm{HCO}}^{+}HCO+ and N2H+{\mathrm{N}}_{2}{\mathrm{H}}^{+}N2​H+ in a Penning trap. Through their Coulomb interaction with laser-cooled Mg+{\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}Mg+ ions the molecules were sympathetically cooled to cryogenic temperatures. We identify the molecules through a measurement of their characteristic mass-dependent breathing mode frequencies. From a measurement of the temperature of the Mg+{\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}Mg+ ions we estimate that the final temperature of the sympathetically cooled molecules is 4 K.