Three designs for a magnetic trap that will simultaneously confine neutral atoms and a non-neutral plasma

Abstract

Three trap designs are proposed for the simultaneous confinement of neutral atoms and a non-neutral plasma in close proximity. One design uses axially symmetric static magnetic fields with a magnetic minimum in a ring around the trap axis. Axial symmetry is required for confinement of the rotating non-neutral plasma, and the magnetic minimum traps the neutral atoms. The second design uses a rotating axially asymmetric magnetic field superimposed on a cusp field to create a time-averaged magnetic minimum (a “TOP” trap). The rotating asymmetry acts as a magnetic “rotating wall” to help confine the non-neutral plasma. In the third design, a cylindrically symmetric high-order multipole field traps the neutral atoms, which are made to rotate about the trap axis in order to avoid the magnetic null at the trap center. These designs may be useful for the production and confinement of cold antihydrogen.