The use of high RFQ fields to manipulate ions

Recent tests of high dc and RF fields in helium at up to several tens of Pascals have shown that electric fields of tens of kilovolts can be used to manipulate ions under RFQ confinement in buffer gas. The theoretical and practical considerations of such confinement are considered and the results of a prototype linear RFQ ion trap designed for examining typical ion clouds under such confinement are presented. Operation at quadrupole field strengths of an order of magnitude greater than currently used is proven to be feasible. The ion temperature achieved is also of an order of magnitude greater than that in lower field devices but this higher temperature is believed to be due to distortions in the RF waveform from the purely simple harmonic rather than just due to the higher RF field.