Generation and Storage of Multiply-Charged Ions within a RF Quadrupole Trap

A three-dimensional rf quadrupole field trap has been designed for generation of multiply-charged ions by successive electron impacts, and for studies of physical processes occurring during charge transfers. Optimum operating conditions have been derived from theoretical considerations, and preliminary experimental results are given. At the end, some limitations and prospects of the quadrupole trap as a tool for physical investigations are briefly discussed.