The double electrostatic ion ring experiment: a unique cryogenic electrostatic storage ring for merged ion-beams...

Area of Science:

• Atomic and molecular physics
• Physical chemistry
• Biophysics

Background:

• Existing ion storage devices face limitations with magnetic fields.
• Need for controlled low-temperature ion interactions in various scientific fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and construct a novel electrostatic ion storage device.
• To enable studies of cation-anion interactions at cryogenic temperatures and low collision energies.
• To explore fundamental research at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing purely electrostatic focusing and deflection elements.
• Confining oppositely charged ion beams in separate cryogenic rings.
• Merging ion beams over a common straight section for interaction studies.
• Employing position-sensitive multi-hit detector systems in cryogenic environments.

Main Results:

• The double electrostatic ion ring experiment allows for controlled cation-anion interaction studies.
• Achieved low internal temperatures (approx. 10 K) and center-of-mass collision energies (approx. 10 meV).
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of cryogenic position-sensitive detectors for reaction product analysis.

Conclusions:

• Electrostatic ion storage devices offer significant technical advantages over magnetic ones, including compactness and no mass limit.
• The novel device facilitates new avenues for fundamental research in atomic, molecular, chemical, and biological sciences.
• Applications include astrophysics (cold molecular ion interactions) and aeronomy/biology (solvated ionic clusters).