Planar Magnetic Paul Traps for Ferromagnetic Particles

TL;DR

This paper explores planar magnetic Paul traps for ferromagnetic particles, demonstrating stable millimeter-scale particle trapping and proposing a chip trap design for micro-particle studies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel planar trap design for ferromagnetic particles and demonstrates stable trapping using a rotating magnetic potential.

Findings

Stable trapping of millimeter-sized ferromagnets achieved

Particle shape significantly affects trapping stability

Proposed chip trap design enables micro-particle gyromagnetic studies

Abstract

We present a study on the trapping of hard ferromagnetic particles using alternating magnetic fields, with a focus on planar trap geometries. First, we realize and characterize a magnetic Paul trap design for millimeter-size magnets based on a rotating magnetic potential. Employing a physically rotating platform with two pairs of permanent magnets with opposite poles, we show stable trapping of hard ferromagnets a centimeter above the trap and demonstrate that the particle shape plays a critical role in the trapping. Finally, we propose a chip trap design that will open a path to studies of gyromagnetic effects with ferromagnetic micro-particles.