Conetrap: A compact electrostatic ion trap

Abstract We have developed a very simple and compact fully electrostatic ion storage device. It consists of only three electrodes: two conical and one central cylindrical. This simple setup works as two focusing electrostatic mirrors forming a resonator-like structure and thereby confining the ions. We present the design and show the first test results demonstrating an ion-storage lifetime in the 100 ms-range at modest vacuum conditions. Storage lifetimes in the order of minutes are foreseen when UHV conditions are introduced.