Ion Trap

Ion Trap

The Ion Trap is designed for x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy of cold gaseous ions in a magnetic field of up to 5 T. Size-selected cluster ions, molecular ions, and ionic complexes can be studies using a unique cryogenic linear quadrupole ion trap with 5 T superconducting solenoid. The radio-frequency ion trap is operated in the space-charge limit for high signal-to-noise ratio. Magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation is the standard ion source, but other ion sources can be added as well.

Selected Applications:
  • Magnetic moment characterization of free ions
  • Controlled radiation damage in organic ions via photofragmentation
  • Electron correlation in highly excited states of simple molecules
schematic view of the experimental setup

schematic view of the experimental setup


Methods

NEXAFS, XMCD, Mass Spectrometry

Remote access

not possible

Beamline data
Energy range 120 - 1600 eV
Energy resolution > 10000 at 400 eV
Flux 1012
Polarisation variable
Focus size (hor. x vert.) beam profile 0.6 x 0.7 mm (at 200 micron exit slit)
Phone +49 30 8062 12137
More details UE52_PGM Ion trap
Station data
Temperature range 3 - 300 K
Pressure range For details contact the scientist in charge.
Detector high transmission reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer for ion yield spectroscopy
Manipulators cryogenic linear quadrupole ion trap
Sample holder compatibility For details contact the scientist in charge.
Additional equipment
  • hexapole collision cell with reactive gas port for sample preparation
  • ion source: magnetron sputtering/gas aggregation ion source (variable; dual target; reactive gas port) or Electrospray ionization (ESI) source
  • 19.5 mm/440 kHz Extrel quadrupole mass filter: 10 - 4000 amu mass range
  • applied magnetic field: 0 – 5 T
view of the experimental setup installed at UE52-PGM

view of the experimental setup installed at UE52-PGM


We offer a unique cryogenic linear quadrupole ion trap with 5 T superconducting solenoid for x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy of size-selected cluster ions, molecular ions, and ionic complexes. The radio-frequency ion trap is operated in the space-charge limit for high signal-to-noise ratio. Magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation is the standard ion source, but other ion sources can be added as well.

Because of its complexity, this experimental setup requires thorough consultation with the scientist in charge. Please contact us well ahead of time to discuss experimental feasibility. This is currently the only instrument world-wide that allows performing XMCD studies of cold gas-phase ions.

Experimental capabilities:

  • metal ion source (single/dual target magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation with additional reactive gas port)
  • hexapole collision/reaction cell for preparation of ionic complexes and oxides
  • quadrupole mass filter for monodisperse ion beams
  • cryogenic ion trap (liquid-helium-cooled) with ion temperatures down to 7.4 K
  • buffer gas cooling for Zeeman relaxation
  • applied homogeneous magnetic field (0 - 5 T) coaxial with ion trap axis
  • reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer for partial ion yield detection of x-ray absorption and XMCD spectra

Further ion sources (e.g. electrospray ionization) can be made available upon request.

See here for details of beamline UE52-PGM.

Ion Trap is jointly developed and operated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Universität Freiburg, TU Berlin, Kyushu University, and Toyota Technological Institute.

Ion Trap and its ongoing upgrade program are partially funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) under Grant No. BMBF-05K13VF2 and No. BMBF-05K16VF1.