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arXiv:quant-ph/9907044 · Journal of Applied Physics

Magnetic trapping of neutral particles: Classical and quantum-mechanical study of a Ioffe–Pritchard type trap

S. Gov, S. Shtrikman, H. Thomas

Published Apr 15, 2000• 13 citations
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Abstract

Recently, we developed a method for calculating the lifetime of a particle inside a magnetic trap with respect to spin flips, as a first step in our efforts to understand the quantum mechanics of magnetic traps. The one-dimensional toy model that was used in this study was physically unrealistic because the magnetic field was not curl free. Here, we study, both classically and quantum mechanically, the problem of a neutral particle with spin S, mass m, and magnetic moment μ, moving in three dimensions in an inhomogeneous magnetic field corresponding to traps of the Ioffe–Pritchard “clover-leaf” and “baseball” type. Defining by ωp, ωz, and ωr the precessional, the axial, and the lateral vibrational frequencies, respectively, of the particle in the adiabatic potential Veff =μ|B|, we find classically the region in the (ωr/ωp)−(ωz/ωp) plane where the particle is trapped. Quantum mechanically, we study the problem of a spin-one particle in the same field. Treating ωr/ωp and ωz/ωp as small parameters for the perturbation from the adiabatic Hamiltonian, we derive a closed-form expression for the transition rate 1/Tesc of the particle from its trapped ground state. In the extreme cases, the expression for 1/Tesc reduces to 4πωr exp(−2ωp/ωr) for ωp≫ωr≫ωz, to 82πωpωi exp(−2ωp/ωi) for ωp≫ωr=ωz≡ωi and to π/2 ωr(ωz/ωp)3/2exp(−2ωp/ωz) for ωp≫ωz≫ωr.

DOI
10.1063/1.372444

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Recently, we developed a method for calculating the lifetime of a particle inside a magnetic trap with respect to spin flips, as a first step in our efforts to understand the quantum mechanics of magnetic traps. The one-dimensional toy model that was used in this study was physically unrealistic because the magnetic field was not curl free. Here, we study, both classically and quantum mechanically, the problem of a neutral particle with spin S, mass m, and magnetic moment μ, moving in three dimensions in an inhomogeneous magnetic field corresponding to traps of the Ioffe–Pritchard “clover-leaf” and “baseball” type. Defining by ωp, ωz, and ωr the precessional, the axial, and the lateral vibrational frequencies, respectively, of the particle in the adiabatic potential Veff =μ|B|, we find classically the region in the (ωr/ωp)−(ωz/ωp) plane where the particle is trapped. Quantum mechanically, we study the problem of a spin-one particle in the same field. Treating ωr/ωp and ωz/ωp as small parameters for the perturbation from the adiabatic Hamiltonian, we derive a closed-form expression for the transition rate 1/Tesc of the particle from its trapped ground state. In the extreme cases, the expression for 1/Tesc reduces to 4πωr exp(−2ωp/ωr) for ωp≫ωr≫ωz, to 82πωpωi exp(−2ωp/ωi) for ωp≫ωr=ωz≡ωi and to π/2 ωr(ωz/ωp)3/2exp(−2ωp/ωz) for ωp≫ωz≫ωr.
Recently, we developed a method for calculating the lifetime of a particle inside a magnetic trap with respect to spin flips, as a first step in our efforts to understand the quantum-mechanics of magnetic traps. The 1D toy model that was used in this study was physically unrealistic because the magnetic field was not curl-free. Here, we study, both classically and quantum-mechanically, the problem of a neutral particle with spin S, mass m and magnetic moment mu, moving in 3D in an inhomogeneous magnetic field corresponding to traps of the Ioffe-Pritchard, `clover-leaf' and `baseball' type. Defining by omega_p, omega_z and omega_r the precessional, the axial and the lateral vibrational frequencies, respectively, of the particle in the adiabatic potential, we find classically the region in the $(ømega_{r}% (omega_r -- omega_z) plane where the particle is trapped. Quantum-mechanically, we study the problem of a spin-one particle in the same field. Treating omega_r / omega_p and omega_z / omega_p as small parameters for the perturbation from the adiabatic Hamiltonian, we derive a closed-form expression for the transition rate 1/T_{esc} of the particle from its trapped ground-state. We find that in the extreme cases, the expression for 1/T_{esc} is dominated by the largest of the two frequencies omega_r and omega_z.
We study, both classically and quantum mechanically, the problem of a neutral particle with a spin angular momentum S, mass m, and magnetic moment μ, moving in one dimension in an inhomogeneous magnetic field given by B=B0ẑ+B⊥′xŷ. This problem serves for us as a toy model to study the trapping of neutral particles. We identify K≡[S2(B⊥′)2/μmB03], which is the ratio between the precessional frequency of the particle and its vibrational frequency, as the relevant parameter of the problem. Classically, we find that when μ is antiparallel to B, the particle is trapped provided that K<0.5. We also find that viscous friction, be it translational or precessional, destabilizes the system. Quantum mechanically, we study the problem of a spin S=ℏ/2 particle in the same field. Treating K as a small parameter for the perturbation from the adiabatic Hamiltonian, we find that the lifetime Tesc of the particle in its trapped ground state is Tesc=(Tvib/2π)(1/8πK)exp(2/K), where Tvib=2πmB0/μ(B⊥′)2 is the classical period of the particle when placed in the adiabatic potential V=μ|B|.
Knowledge of the fundamental limitations on a magnetic trap for neutral particles is of paramount interest to designers as it allows for the rapid assessment of the feasibility of specific trap requirements or the quality of a given design. In this paper, performance limitations are defined for convexity of magnetic trapping potential and bias field using a local approximation in the trapping center. As an example, the fundamental bounds are computed for current supporting regions in the form of a spherical shell, a cylindrical region, and a box. A Pareto-optimal set considering both objectives is found and compared with known designs of the baseball trap and Ioffe-Pritchard trap. The comparison reveals a significant gap in the performance of classical trap designs from fundamental limitations. This indicates a possibility of improved trap designs and modern techniques of shape synthesis are applied in order to prove their existence. The topologically optimized traps perform almost two times better as compared to conventional designs. Last, but not least, the developed framework might serve as a prototype for the formulation of fundamental limitations on plasma confinement in a wider sense.
The motion of a neutral particle with a magnetic moment in an inhomogeneous magnetic field is considered. This situation, occurring, for example, in a Stern-Gerlach experiment, is investigated from classical and semiclassical points of view. It is assumed that the magnetic field is strong or slowly varying in space, i.e., that adiabatic conditions hold. To the classical model, a systematic Lie-transform perturbation technique is applied up to second order in the adiabatic-expansion parameter. The averaged classical Hamiltonian contains not only terms representing fictitious electric and magnetic fields but also an additional velocity-dependent potential. The Hamiltonian of the quantum-mechanical system is diagonalized by means of a systematic WKB analysis for coupled wave equations up to second order in the adiabaticity parameter, which is coupled to Planck's constant. An exact term-by-term correspondence with the averaged classical Hamiltonian is established, thus confirming the relevance of the additional velocity-dependent second-order contribution.