Quadrupole Ion Trap
By Jason, Chris
The goal of our project is to build a Quadrupole Ion Trap (QIT), using Lycopodium club-moss spores. Charged particles are confined within the metal-glass trap by high-voltage oscillating electric fields from a transformer operating at 6 kV at 60 Hz and controlled by a function generator. The critical elements of the trap's structure are its two end-cap electrodes and central ring electrode made from either stainless steel or copper alloy materials to maximize manipulation control. Analysis of both mass-to-charge ratios and spatial confinements of Lycopodium spores occurs after we apply electrical charging with a Teflon rod supported by cloth through triboelectric interactions. The combination of a green laser emitting less than one milliwatt power with a camera system visualizes and captures spore movement inside the trap.