Efforts to increase the storage levels of positrons in Penning‐Malmberg and other types of traps are important for many applications. Positronics Research LLC (PRLLC) is developing a storage trap that will host several positron, electron, and mixed plasma experiments intended to maximize storage conditions for positrons with acceptable lifetimes. A warm‐bore 5 T cryomagnet with three independently controlled solenoids is used for experiment. The central solenoid is used for Penning‐Malmberg trap studies. The end coils are used for magnetic mirror and other pinch‐storage research experiments. The end potentials of the Penning‐Malmberg trap will be raised to 100 kV, creating an effective well of length 100 cm. Optimization of the radio‐frequency drive system, designed to control the plasma using Trivelpiece‐Gould modes, and assessment of diocotron instabilities of the non‐neutral plasma are being investigated using a 16‐node, distributed Linux cluster. © 2003 American Institute of Physics