Transport of ions at atmospheric pressure using an electrostatic surface wave

Abstract

Ion motion is considered in a gas above a dielectric surface, upon which an electrostatic surface wave propagates. A field-independent mobility is assumed to adequately characterize the local ion motion in the field of the surface wave. For proper values of amplitude, wavelength, and phase velocity of the surface wave, stable transport of ions above the dielectric surface is found. Ion drift velocities of the order of 100 m/s or more may be obtained. The nature of the ion motion is discussed. Finally, an experiment is described which demonstrates the transport properties of the electrostatic surface wave. Excellent agreement is found between the experimental results and theoretical predictions.