A room-temperature ion trapping apparatus with hydrogen partial pressure below 10-11 mbar.

ABSTRACT

The lifetime of trapped ion ensembles corresponds to a crucial parameter determining the potential scalability of their prospective applications and is often limited by the achievable vacuum level in the apparatus. We report on the realization of a room-temperature 40Ca+ ion trapping vacuum apparatus with unprecedentedly low reaction rates of ions with a dominant vacuum contaminant hydrogen. We present our trap assembly procedures and hydrogen pressure characterization by analysis of the CaH+ molecule formation rate.