Experiments to trap dust particles by a wire simulating an electron beam

Abstract

Motion of trapped dust particles has been previously analyzed using high-energy bremsstrahlung data obtained during dust trapping in the TRISTAN accumulation ring. Because it is difficult to observe the actual motions of dust particles trapped in an electron beam due to the strong synchrotron light background, we carried out experiments to trap sample dust particles with a Cu wire simulating an electron beam. A negative potential was slowly applied to the wire using a high voltage dc power supply. Motions of dust particles trapped by the wire were recorded with a video camera system. In an experiment using a Cu wire (1.5 mm in diameter) with no magnetic field, the charged dust particle made vertical oscillation about the wire. In another experiment using the same wire but with a vertical magnetic field (0.135 T) simulating a bending magnetic field, both vertical and horizontal oscillating motions perpendicular to the wire were observed. Furthermore, it was found that the dust particle moved in the longitudinal direction of the wire in the bending magnetic field. Therefore, it is expected that charged dust particles trapped by the electric field of the electron beam oscillate vertically where there is no magnetic field in the TRISTAN accumulation ring. It is also expected that trapped dust particles where there is a bending magnetic field oscillate horizontally and vertically as the particle drifts in a longitudinal direction along the ring.