Research with stored ions produced using synchrotron radiation

A distribution of argon ion charge states has been produced by inner shell photoionization of argon atoms using X-ray synchrotron radiation. These ions were stored in a Penning ion trap at moderate to very low well depths, and analog-detected yielding narrow charge-to-mass spectrum linewidths. Estimates of ion densities indicated that ion-ion collisional energy transfer should be rapid, leading to thermalization. Measurements using variants of this novel stored, multicharged ion gas are considered. (orig.)