Ion dynamics in a Paul trap driven by various radio frequency waveforms

•Various RF waveforms have been proposed for 3D QIT.•The mechanism relies on changes of ion oscillations in the trap.•Potential well depth of these waveforms has been calculated.•Possible influences of these RF waveforms have been summarized.

In this study we explore single ion dynamics in a Paul trap (three-dimensional radio frequency (RF) quadrupole ion trap – 3D QIT), driven by Sinusoidal, Rectangular, Sawtooth and Triangular RF waveforms. A molecular dynamic simulation code in Python has been written to explore ion dynamics in the trap. It is shown that various radio frequency waveforms produce various shift in ion oscillation in the trap. Furthermore phase space plots and the magnitude of the potential well depth for these various waveforms are given. Possible influences of these various RF waveforms have been summarized.

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