High fidelity simulations of ion trajectories in miniature ion traps using the boundary-element method

In this paper we present numerical modeling results for endcap and linear ion traps, used for experiments at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK and Innsbruck University respectively. The secular frequencies for Strontium-88 and Calcium-40 ions were calculated from ion trajectories, simulated using boundary-element and finite-difference numerical methods. The results were compared against experimental measurements. Both numerical methods showed high accuracy with boundary-element method being more accurate. Such simulations can be useful tools for designing new traps and trap arrays. They can also be used for obtaining precise trapping parameters for desired ion control when no analytical approach is possible as well as for investigating the ion heating rates due to thermal electronic noise.