Elastic scattering of electrons on ions

We observed some macroscopic effects of elastic electron scattering on a set of cold calcium ions.

The experiments were carried out using a set of optically cooled ions stored in a Paul trap. They were bombarded with electronic beams at various geometries, energies, and intensities. This leads to various changes in the ion sets, which can be explained by electron-ion Coulomb attraction.

The observed effects were the energy transfer, resulting in changes in the temperature of the cloud of ions, and the momentum transfer, which resulted in electrostatic pressure. Surprisingly, the pushing effect is observed only in the directions transversal to the electron beam.

Details of the experiment will be discussed. The described effects will be presented and interpreted using numerical simulations.