Modeling the FTICR-MS signal of a $^{7}$Be Ion Plasma using a 2D PIC code

Beryllium-7 ($^{7}$Be) decays only by electron capture into Lithium-7 ($^{7}$Li) with a half life of 53 days. As a result, changing its electronic structure will affect its decay rate. We desire to study the effect of ionization on its decay rate. We will do this by trapping a $^{7}$Be ion plasma in a Malmberg-Penning Trap and measuring its and $^{7}$Li's concentration as a function of time by using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). We use this ratio as a function of time to directly measure the decay rate of the confined ion plasma rather than using gamma detection. We have modeled these signals in a 2-dimensional electrostatic particle-in-cell (PIC) code. The two spectrum peaks merges at high densities and at low densities they can be resolved. We also plan to model $^{7}$BeH$^{+}$ and $^{7}$Li at high densities to see if we can differentiate between them. The preliminary results of these investigations will be presented.