We describe a configuration for a linear Paul rf ion trap. This trap can store a long string of ions with a small second-order Doppler shift, comparable to that achieved with a single ion in a quadrupole Paul trap. Crystallized strings of trapped ions, as well as more complicated structures, have been observed in the trap. We report an observation of the 40.5-GHz ground-state hyperfine interval of $^{199}\mathrm{Hg}^{+}$ by microwave-optical double-resonance spectroscopy and discuss prospects for a microwave frequency standard based on a trapped string of ions.We describe a configuration for a linear Paul rf ion trap. This trap can store a long string of ions with a small second-order Doppler shift, comparable to that achieved with a single ion in a quadrupole Paul trap. Crystallized strings of trapped ions, as well as more complicated structures, have been observed in the trap. We report an observation of the 40.5-GHz ground-state hyperfine interval of $^{199}\mathrm{Hg}^{+}$ by microwave-optical double-resonance spectroscopy and discuss prospects for a microwave frequency standard based on a trapped string of ions.

Physical Review AMay 1, 1992330 citations

Ion storage in an RF–octupole trap

J. Walz, Michael Schubert, Ingo Siemers +2 more

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science ConferenceMay 10, 19920 citations

Structure and Dynamics of Trapped Ions

Joel H. Parks

CRC Press eBooksNov 11, 20092 citations

Simulations of the rf heating rates in a linear quadrupole ion trap

Vladimir L. Ryjkov, XianZhen Zhao, Hans A. Schuessler

Molecular dynamics simulations of the ion clouds stored in a linear quadrupole rf ion trap are performed at low temperatures (0.1 mK--15 K). The introduction of periodic boundary conditions allowed us to study the translationally uniform ion cloud geometry. The time evolution of the kinetic energy of the ion cloud is monitored during the simulation and the increase in the kinetic energy of the cloud (rf heating) is determined; its dependence on temperature, trapping voltage, and the number of ions is studied. The dependence of rf heating rate on temperature shows that rf heating is undetectable until the temperature reaches approximately 0.5 K; it then increases rapidly until it reaches a maximum at around 2 K. It starts to decrease slowly at higher temperatures. The rf heating rate is shown to increase very sharply with the amplitude of the trapping voltage. The dependence of the rf heating rate on the number of ions shows the influence of the ion crystal shell structure at low temperatures, and has a simple linear dependence at higher temperatures.Molecular dynamics simulations of the ion clouds stored in a linear quadrupole rf ion trap are performed at low temperatures (0.1 mK--15 K). The introduction of periodic boundary conditions allowed us to study the translationally uniform ion cloud geometry. The time evolution of the kinetic energy of the ion cloud is monitored during the simulation and the increase in the kinetic energy of the cloud (rf heating) is determined; its dependence on temperature, trapping voltage, and the number of ions is studied. The dependence of rf heating rate on temperature shows that rf heating is undetectable until the temperature reaches approximately 0.5 K; it then increases rapidly until it reaches a maximum at around 2 K. It starts to decrease slowly at higher temperatures. The rf heating rate is shown to increase very sharply with the amplitude of the trapping voltage. The dependence of the rf heating rate on the number of ions shows the influence of the ion crystal shell structure at low temperatures, and has a simple linear dependence at higher temperatures.

Physical Review AMar 23, 200550 citations

^{199}\mathrm{Hg}^{+}

by microwave-optical double-resonance spectroscopy and discuss prospects for a microwave frequency standard based on a trapped string of ions.