Transverse magnetic field voltage isolator

A voltage-isolating apparatus comprising:

• at least two passageways, each passageway having two openings wherein each opening is configured to be connected to a vacuum pump and a vacuum chamber and capable of being sealed such that a low pressure environment can be sustained within each passageway, each passageway being suitable for transferring gas at a relatively low flow rate, and each passageway is configured to be connected to the same vacuum pump and the same vacuum chamber;
• at least two magnets, where a first and a second magnet are positioned along opposite and exterior surfaces of each of the passageways wherein the first and second magnets impose a magnetic field in a transverse direction with respect to a lengthwise axis of each of the passageways, the transverse magnetic field tending to reduce the potential energy of charged particles traveling through each of the passageways;
• a support structure configured for holding the at least two passageways in position relative to each other and relative to the first magnet and the second magnet;
• a magnetic shield, the magnetic shield including a cylindrical structure configured to surround the support structure, the at least two magnets, and the at least two passageways;
• and
• a cap, where the cap includes a magnetic field shielding component configured to lock support structure within the magnetic shield.