A levitated magnetic dipole configuration as a compact charged particle trap

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Magnetic Confinement Fusion
• Superconducting Magnet Technology

Background:

• The APEX collaboration aims to build a compact levitated dipole experiment for electron-positron plasmas.
• Stable levitation of the dipole field coil is crucial for this experiment.
• Existing systems often rely on permanent magnets, which may limit confinement efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct and evaluate a prototype levitation system for a dipole field coil.
• To analyze the stability and properties of a permanent magnet-based levitation system.
• To explore the potential for improved charged particle confinement using a levitated superconducting coil.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a feedback-controlled levitation system using analog circuits and a permanent magnet.
• Stability analysis and comparison of experimental behavior with theoretical predictions.
• Numerical orbit analysis of charged particle confinement in dipole field configurations.

Main Results:

• A functional prototype levitation system was successfully built and tested.
• Experimental results of the permanent magnet system were compared against stability analysis.
• Numerical simulations indicated enhanced confinement properties with a superconducting coil magnet.

Conclusions:

• A practical approach for constructing a compact levitated dipole trap was reviewed.
• Levitated superconducting coils offer potential for improved charged particle confinement compared to permanent magnets.
• The developed dipole field configuration is applicable to various charged particles, including positrons and electrons.