Electron storage in the HITRAP cooling trap

We have succeeded for the first time to store electrons over a macroscopic period of time in the newly designed cooling trap of the HITRAP facility (GSI). The electrons are produced in an electron source two meters away from the Penning trap and are guided towards the trap by a combination of several magnetic coils. There the trapping is achieved with a magnetic field of 2T and voltages applied to the trap electrodes. After the storage time the electrons are ejected and detected by a micro channel plate (MCP). On the picture you can see the signal recorded with an oscilloscope after 1s of storage time.
The next step is the simultaneous storage of electrons and ions and the demonstration of electron cooling.