3DCylPIC—A 3D particle-in-cell code in cylindrical coordinates for space charge simulations of ion trap and ion transport devices

A 3D particle-in-cell code in cylindrical coordinates, that can be used to characterize space charge effects in various ion traps and ion transport devices where cylindrical boundary conditions are more appropriate, is presented. By solving Poisson’s equation on a cylindrical grid at every time step, the presence of an arbitrary amount of charged particles is handled in a completely natural way. Hard sphere scattering and statistical diffusion models can be used to include effects of interaction with a neutral buffer gas. An overview of the code is discussed, and its first application to study RF carpet devices is presented.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (83 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ Space charge often has negative impacts on ion trap and ion transport devices. ▶ 3D particle-in-cell codes are ideal for studying the effects of space charge. ▶ Cylindrical boundary conditions can be more appropriate for simulating devices. ▶ A code was developed to study ion transport across an RF carpet with space charge.