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MPINP:
Präzisionsexperimente - Abteilung Blaum
Abstract:
The novel Penning-trap mass spectrometer PENTATRAP aims at mass-ratio determinations
of medium-heavy to heavy ions with relative uncertainties below 10−11.
From the mass ratios of certain ion species, the corresponding mass differences will
be determined with sub-eV/c2uncertainties. These mass differences are relevant for
neutrino-mass experiments, a test of special relativity and tests of bound-state QED.
Means to obtain the required precision are very stable trapping fields, the use of
highly-charged ions produced by EBITs, a non-destructive cyclotron-frequency determination
scheme employing detectors with single-ion sensitivity and a five-trap tower,
that allows for measurement schemes being insensitive to magnetic field drifts.
Within this thesis, part of the detection electronics was set up and tested under
experimental conditions. A single-trap setup was realized. A Faraday cup in the trap
tower enabled the proper adjustment of the settings of the beamline connecting the
EBIT and the Penning-trap system, resulting in the first trapping of ions at PENTATRAP.
A stabilization of switched voltages in the beamline and detailed studies of ion
bunch characteristics allowed for reproducible loading of only a few ions. Detection of
the axial oscillation of the trapped ions gave hints that in some cases, even single ions
had been trapped. Furthermore, valuable conclusions about necessary modifications
of the setup could be drawn.
