Ab initio simulations on the behavior of small ion clouds in the WITCH Penning trap system

Various ab initio simulations on the behavior of ion clouds consisting of a small number of positively charged ions stored in the WITCH double Penning trap system are described. A general description of the simulation code used is presented and the expected behavior of the particles in the first of the two Penning traps is discussed. Special attention is paid to the influence of this behavior on the operation of the experimental setup. The effect of electric excitations on the ion motions is described in detail. Also the transfer of the ions between the two traps and consequences for their motion in the second Penning trap are addressed. Scaled Coulomb force simulations are used to estimate the size of the ion cloud inside the Penning traps for larger numbers of particles.