An imaging co-axial tube electrodynamic trap for manipulation of charged particles

A tubular particle trapping device was designed and fabricated using two co-axial electrically conductive tubes with diameters of 5 mm and 7 mm, respectively. The device was integrated with an imaging camera and optical fiber bundle for real time monitoring of trapped particle motion. Charged microparticles of 3 to 50 m diameter can be suspended in air at ambient pressure using the device utilizing a quadrupole potential with an alternating voltage of amplitude 300 V to 750 V and frequency of 30 Hz to 140 Hz. Controlled trapping of a single particle or multiple particles can be achieved by tuning the voltage amplitude. The particle remained trapped when the entire assembly was translated or rotated. The device can be used as a manipulator for charged particle transport and repositioning.