Evidences for isochronous behavior in electron and ion storage for a low energy electrostatic storage ring

The temporal width of a stored bunch of low energy (~30 eV) electrons circulating in desk-top sized passive electrostatic storage ring has been observed to be unchanging with orbit number. The storage ring has been operated with a range of asymmetric voltages for both stored electron and ion bunches with a particular focus on controllably probing the edges of stable storage regions to explore variations in the temporal widths as a function of storage time. For electron storage an operating condition is identified in which the temporal width approaches a constant value after a period of increase - isochronous behavior. Measurements using stored ions indicate similar behavior can be achieved. Possible mechanisms for the observed behavior are discussed.