Towards the trapping of electrons in the Geonium Chip Penning trap

The Geonium Chip Penning trap is a unique scalable Penning trap technology with applications in quantum technology, with a particular focus on the detection of single microwave photons. The trap has not yet demonstrated the trapping of electrons, but this thesis includes work towards this goal. A comprehensive photoelectric characterisation of the cryogenic trapping chamber has been undertaken, with applications in leak detection and the validation of the electrostatic model of the trap, among others. The calibration of a novel planar magnetic field source has been undertaken, which has been verified by the measurement of homogeneous magnetic fields of up to 500 mT. This scalable magnetic field source has other potential engineering applications. A control program for the magnetic field source has been implemented, which provides active quench protection and controls the magnetic field distribution. A new trap loading procedure has been programmed, which implements an electron impact ionisation technique. An ionisation curve has been obtained which is in good agreement with that of helium, which suggests that secondary electrons are being produced in the trap. Resistive wall destabilisation has been investigated which has resulted in new electronic filters.