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Paul trap
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Paul trap

electromagnetic device
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Quick Summary

The Paul trap is an electromagnetic device developed by German physicist Wolfgang Paul, for which he shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Physics. This device uses a radio-frequency current to create an alternating electric field that isolates and confines ions, or electrically charged atoms.1

This confinement allows scientists to accurately measure the properties of these ions. The Paul trap became a crucial tool in modern spectroscopy, enabling precise study of atomic properties and testing of physical theories. It also allows for the separation and storage of ions with different masses, a principle widely used in modern spectrometers.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Wolfgang Paul
  2. trap

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