An apparatus for the electrodynamic containment of charged macroparticles

摘要

The dynamic moition of the ions contained in the trapped (199)Hg frequency standard contributes to the stability of the standard. In order to study these dynamics, a macroscopic analog of the (199)Hg trap is constructed. Containment of micron-sized particles in this trap allows direct visual observation of the particles' motion. Influenced by the confining fields and their own Coulomb repulsion, the particles can form stable arrays.