Modeling Electric Potentials and Fields of a Paul Trap Using SIMION*

Ions can be trapped in space using a combination of static (dc) and oscillating (rf) electric potentials. In our linear Paul ion trap, the electric field is generated with potentials on twelve electrodes. By use of SIMION, an ion- and electron-optics simulator, we model our trap's electric fields and potentials and then test how simulated ions behave. We focus on trap stability and ion containment as well as extracting phenomenological parameters for use in other calculations. Our lowest-order results are consistent with analytical models for trap parameters. This modeling helps to pinpoint ideal trap voltage configurations to improve the ease and quality of our lab's Paul trap experiments.