The ion trap demo experiment (see the picture of the setup, figure on the left hand side) aims to explain pedagogically at the general public one of the foundamental brick of the atomic physics experiments existing in many laboratories.

The main goal is to show the principle of working of particle traps and, in particular, of ion traps. This operating principle is implemented in an exemplary way in unic ion atomic clocks.

The visualization of electrically trapped particles is made possible by observing the scattered light of the atoms irradiated by a laser beam. This is a detection technique used in real experiments (the figure on the left hand side is a picture of the charged particles visualization).

This experiment has been prepared by the Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (Université de Paris 13) and the Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques (Université de Paris 7). It has been presented to the general public during the expo “Tout est Quantique?!” the 3th of June 2012 at the Musée des Arts et Métiers.