'Ion surfing' with radiofrequency carpets

摘要

The transport of low-energy ions by inhomogeneous alternating electric fields combined with static electric fields is an important and established technique in applied and fundamental research. Radiofrequency (RF) multipole ion guides can focus and transport ions along a linear path while RF funnels, carpets, or walls provide ion guiding along surfaces. A novel surface transport technique-ion surfing-is proposed which relies on a traveling potential wave combined with a static repelling RF field. The results of numerical simulations are presented and the observed features of ion surfing are discussed. In addition, possible applications to thermalized (gas-stopped) fast ion beams are presented.