Loading a Trap, Particle Transport and Loss Mechanisms

Obviously, there are two options to load a trap with charged particles, namely to produce them inside the trap where they remain confined, or to capture and confine particles that have been produced externally. We will see that internal production is somewhat limited in terms of the available particle species that may be produced under the circumstances inside a trap, while for external production, options are nearly unlimited, however a defined capture process is required prior to confinement. We will also discuss the controlled transport or transfer of particles and the most common mechanisms that lead to particle loss from the trap.