Development of a radiofrequency linear ion trap for β decay study

Abstract

A Beta decay Paul Trap (BPT) has been constructed at Argonne National Laboratory for the precise measurement of beta decay. We have demonstrated the capability of producing and transferring a low-energy, bunched, and isotopically pure ions beam. In BPT the ions are cooled to sub-eV energies, and confined in a volume of less than 1 mm3.The trap has an open geometry which allows four sets of radiation detectors covering a substantial potion of solid angle. In combination with versatile detectors, BPT is able to precisely determine the entire decay kinematics of many isotopes.