Eur. Phys. J. D 15, 105-111 (2001)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530170188

Characterization of a miniature Paul-Straubel trap

Université de Provence, Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires ( UMR 6633 CNRS-UAM1) , Centre de Saint-Jérôme, Case C21, 13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France

Corresponding author: ^a mknoop@up.univ-mrs.fr

Received: 14 November 2000
Revised: 1 February 2001
Published online: 15 July 2001

Abstract

Frequency standard applications and ultra-high resolution spectroscopy of a confined single ion require traps of drastically reduced dimensions (about or below 1 mm). These small dimensions increase the sensitivity of the trapping behavior to imperfections in the trap geometry and to patch potentials. For the aim of the metrological laser interrogation of a single Ca⁺ ion, a miniature cylindrical ring trap was built. In order to optimize the laser cooling process and to reach strong binding conditions, the boundaries of the stability diagram and the zones of low confinement as well as the ion motion properties were characterized.