Magnetic collimation system for improving ion trap loading efficiency.

ABSTRACT

This work considers a solenoid-based magnetic collimation system for improving the efficiency of ion trap loading with ions created by laser ablation. We discuss a physical model of ion beam collimation in such a system, provide qualitative analytical estimates of its collimation characteristics, develop a numerical model of ion collimation based on a test-particle approach, and describe a real experimental setup where the proposed approach is effectively employed to collimate 232Th3+ and 88Sr1+ ions. The experimental results are compared with the results of the performed numerical modeling. The observed inconsistencies between the two are discussed, and their possible explanations are suggested.