Ion trapping

A method for trapping of a plurality of charged particles in a charged particle trap including first and second electrode mirrors having a common optical axis, and arranged in alignment at two extremities of the particle trap, the mirrors being capable, when voltage is applied thereto, of creating respective electric fields defined by key field parameters and configured to reflect charged particles causing oscillation of the particles between the mirrors, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing into the trap, along the optical axis, said plurality of charged particles as a beam having pre-determined key beam parameters, said particles having a spread ΔT in the oscillation time of the particles per oscillation, said spread ΔT having a first component ΔTv, caused by a range of velocities at which said particles are introduced into the trap, and a second component Δta, caused by heterogeneity of trajectories of said particles in the trap resulting from aberration of the mirrors;
• and
• (b) inducing bunching among said particles, wherein the step of inducing bunching includes choosing said key field parameters for at least one of the mirrors so as to reduce one or both of the components ΔTv and ΔTa and to minimize the distance between the particles until the bunching occurs.