Development of Printed Circuit Board Radio Frequency Quadrupole (PCB RFQ) Ion Traps for High Precision Mass Spectrometry

We propose to develop novel types of ion traps using printed circuit board technology.

Choosing PCB manufacturing over traditional manufacturing makes these novel ion traps precise, robust and cost effective. First prototypes have been build and commissioned at the University of Edinburgh. An open challenge is the outgassing and vacuum behaviour of those new ion traps. In this grant we request funds to systematically investigate the performance of the prototype ion trap build.

The results will guide the development and construction of a new RFQ beam line and injection trap based on PCB RFQs.

The new system will boost the sensitivity and resolving power of the FRS Ion Catcher at GSI and enable new mass measurements of very exotic nuclei at the limits of nuclear binding. This will give insights into nuclear structure and shape our understanding of the atomic nucleus.