Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Optical Trap Loading of Dielectric Microparticles In Air
Published on: February 5, 2017
On the frequency-locked orbits of two particles in a paul trap
Abstract:
Calculations are presented that show frequency-locking to be a prominent phenomenon in the dynamics of two ions in a Paul trap, provided that damping is linear and small. The frequency-locked attractors that exist when dissipation is present correspond to stable, periodic orbits of the underlying Hamiltonian system, which appear to be infinite in number. The accuracy of the calculations is illustrated by comparing an orbit observed in a Paul trap for microspheres with the solution of the equations of motion.
Related Concept Videos
The Pauli Exclusion Principle
Mass Analyzers: Common Types
Molecular Orbital Theory I
Atomic Nuclei: Larmor Precession Frequency
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Equilibrium Conditions for a Particle
To understand the concept of equilibrium, let us first consider the forces acting on an object. When different forces act on an object, they can...

