MATLAB: Modeling Ion Movement in Ion Trap

[th5418]

Hey guys, I asked this before but I don't know where the thread is, and now it's more detailed, haha.

So attached is a png of the trap design. I'm trying to make a function on MATLAB where I can predict the ion's movement/oscillation. So the E1-E5 are electrodes, which have a combined potential of Vs, and Z1 has a potential of Vz. So I figure I'm going to do a function which fits ode45, if you don't know what that is, you can still help probably.

But anyways, those electrodes have a potential set upon them. Can someone explain to me what exactly that means? Like, say Vs = 1kV and Vz = 10kV... If I were near the middle of the field free region, would I be feeling the same potential as opposed to if I were right next to them? What exactly does, "these electrodes have a potential of ___ on them" mean?

 

[NateD]

The potential on the electrodes means that the electric field generated by the electrodes has a certain magnitude and direction. This electric field exerts a force on charged particles, such as ions. The force is proportional to the charge of the particles and the magnitude of the electric field. If you were in the middle of the field free region, you would not feel any electric force from the electrodes, as the electric field there is zero. However, if you were right next to an electrode, then you would feel the electric force from that electrode.