Large Ion Crystals in a Linear Paul Trap
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus (Denmark)
- Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)
Plasmas of Mg{sup +} ions, containing more than 10{sup 5} ions, have been observed to reach well-ordered (crystalline) states by applying laser cooling. The crystals are highly elongated with up to ten concentric cylindrical shells surrounding a central string. Such large structures have not previously been observed in a Paul trap. The amplitude of the micromotion of the ions can be larger than the shell spacings. As the diameter changes along the crystals, sharp transitions are observed when new shells form, in good agreement with molecular dynamics simulations. The predictions from simulations of how ordering develops with decreasing temperature are also confirmed. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 342662
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 81; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Prediction of an alignment transition region of two-ion crystals in a Paul trap
Sympathetic cooling and crystallization of ions in a linear Paul trap