Can a single proton be trapped in a Penning trap? And what happens to it?

[bogie]

Can a single proton be held in a Penning trap and for how long? Has it been done? Who did it?

 

[bogie]

http://www.aip.org/png/html/penning.htm

This is a graphic of a Penning trap. I am hoping to come across an expert on Penning traps who can discuss the thresholds, i.e can one proton be trapped. Is there any way to observe the trapped ions? Is there any experiments done with protons and what happens to them while in a trap, i.e. do they leak out, do they form hydrogen while in there, etc.?

 

[denian]

Yes, a single proton can be trapped in a Penning trap. A Penning trap is a device that uses a combination of electric and magnetic fields to confine charged particles, such as protons, in a small region of space. The proton will oscillate back and forth within the trap, with its motion being controlled by the electric and magnetic fields.

The amount of time that a single proton can be held in a Penning trap depends on various factors, such as the strength of the electric and magnetic fields, the temperature of the trap, and any external influences that may affect the trap. In general, a single proton can be held in a Penning trap for a few minutes to several hours.

Yes, trapping a single proton in a Penning trap has been done by several research groups. One notable example is the work of Hans Georg Dehmelt, who successfully trapped a single proton in a Penning trap in the 1950s. Dehmelt later went on to win the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on trapping charged particles.

Other research groups have also successfully trapped a single proton in a Penning trap, with advancements in technology allowing for longer and more precise trapping times. This has enabled scientists to study the properties of the proton in great detail, leading to a better understanding of fundamental particles and their interactions.

In summary, a single proton can be held in a Penning trap for a significant amount of time, and this has been achieved by various research groups, including the pioneering work of Hans Georg Dehmelt.