Abstract
In this article we present the production of a pulsed molecular C2− beam and the subsequent trapping of C2− in a digital ion trap (DIT). The anionic molecules were produced in a pulsed discharge valve from acetylene and carbon dioxide gas in a helium carrier. The mass spectrum of the pulsed anion beam is initially recorded using a Wien filter. Subsequently, we measured the mass spectrum using the DIT and its stability diagram. The results are compared to a theoretical description of the trap’s stability conditions. The research is relevant for future laser cooling experiments of trapped C2− and for sympathetic cooling experiments of other anionic species (antiprotons, electrons, anionic atoms and molecules) and are of interest for precision experiments on antihydrogen as performed at the antiproton decelerator facility at CERN.
Highlights
Molecular and atomic anions are of importance in a range of fields, including astrophysics [1] and research on the interstellar medium [2], chemistry of correlated systems [3,4,5] and negative superhalogens [6]
In this article we presented the pulsed production of anionic molecules from a C2H2 and CO2 gas mixture in He via a pulsed discharge valve and subsequent trapping of C2− in a digital ion trap (DIT)
The mass spectrum up to 70 u of the anions produced by the valve was recorded using a Wien filter
Summary
Molecular and atomic anions are of importance in a range of fields, including astrophysics [1] and research on the interstellar medium [2], chemistry of correlated systems [3,4,5] and negative superhalogens [6]. Laser cooling techniques, which are routinely used for neutral atoms and positive ions (in Paul or Penning traps) as well as for neutral molecules like YO, CaF and SrF [10,11,12], have the potential to reach sub-Kelvin temperatures. This has never been achieved for anions [13].
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