An ultra-low energy (30-200 eV) ion-atomic beam source for ion-beam-assisted deposition in ultrahigh vacuum

The paper describes the design and construction of an ion-atomic beam source with an optimized generation of ions for ion-beam-assisted deposition under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. The source combines an effusion cell and an electron impact ion source and produces ion beams with ultra-low energies in the range from 30 eV to 200 eV. Decreasing ion beam energy to hyperthermal values (≈10(1) eV) without loosing optimum ionization conditions has been mainly achieved by the incorporation of an ionization chamber with a grid transparent enough for electron and ion beams. In this way the energy and current density of nitrogen ion beams in the order of 10(1) eV and 10(1) nA/cm(2), respectively, have been achieved. The source is capable of growing ultrathin layers or nanostructures at ultra-low energies with a growth rate of several MLs/h. The ion-atomic beam source will be preferentially applied for the synthesis of GaN under UHV conditions.     

High-temperature high-pressure all-metal pulsed source of van der Waals dimers: Towards the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment

An all-metal pulsed source of van der Waals (vdW) dimers was constructed; it operates at temperatures up to 1000 K and carrier gas stagnation pressures up to 10 bars. Performance of the source was demonstrated in the production and spectroscopy of both CdAr and Cd(2) molecules in a supersonic beam expansion. Simulation of the recorded laser induced fluorescence (LIF) excitation spectra using the B(3)1(5(3)P(1)) ← X(1)0(+)(5(1)S(0)) and b(3)0(u) (+)(5(3)P(1))←X(1)0(g) (+)(5(1)S(0)) transitions in CdAr and Cd(2), respectively, showed that these molecules were produced with a rotational temperature in the range from 3 K to 19 K. The source was incorporated into an experimental set-up dedicated to the realization of Bohm's spin-1∕2 particle version of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment for ((111)Cd)(2) molecules.     

Subcutoff microwave driven plasma ion sources for multielemental focused ion beam systems

A compact microwave driven plasma ion source for focused ion beam applications has been developed. Several gas species have been experimented including argon, krypton, and hydrogen. The plasma, confined by a minimum B multicusp magnetic field, has good radial and axial uniformity. The octupole multicusp configuration shows a superior performance in terms of plasma density (~1.3 x 10(11) cm(-3)) and electron temperature (7-15 eV) at a power density of 5-10 Wcm(2). Ion current densities ranging from a few hundreds to over 1000 mA/cm(2) have been obtained with different plasma electrode apertures. The ion source will be combined with electrostatic Einzel lenses and should be capable of producing multielemental focused ion beams for nanostructuring and implantations. The initial simulation results for the focused beams have been presented.     

Development of laser induced fluorescence diagnostic for measuring the parameters of plasma containing rare gas species

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) technique development activity for measurement of plasma parameters in ITER divertor plasma is described. Helium density is the task of priority, but Doppler measurement of ion (atom) temperatures is also the aim of the program. The concept of ITER scenarios includes injection of "extrinsic" impurities (Ne, Ar, and Kr). It is possible to use the species as tracing elements for measurement of T(i), T(a). The program included modeling experiments on PNX-U (a multicusp trap with microwave argon plasma). Helium was added by puffing into discharge. Temperatures T(i)(Ar(1+)) and T(a)(He(0)) have been measured by scanning laser line across absorption line of species. Summarizing of fluorescence signals provided input data for estimation of Ar(1+) and He(0) densities via interpretative collisional-radiative models. Besides, the collisional-radiative model has been used for estimation of electron density using the ratio of fluorescence signals at 388.9 and 706.5 nm helium lines.     

Measurement of axial neutral density profiles in a microwave discharge ion thruster by laser absorption spectroscopy with optical fiber probes

In order to reveal the physical processes taking place within the "μ10" microwave discharge ion thruster, internal plasma diagnosis is indispensable. However, the ability of metallic probes to access microwave plasmas biased at a high voltage is limited from the standpoints of the disturbance created in the electric field and electrical isolation. In this study, the axial density profiles of excited neutral xenon were successfully measured under ion beam acceleration by using a novel laser absorption spectroscopy system. The target of the measurement was metastable Xe I 5p(5)((2)P(0) (3/2))6s[3/2](0) (2) which absorbed a wavelength of 823.16 nm. Signals from laser absorption spectroscopy that swept a single-mode optical fiber probe along the line of sight were differentiated and converted into axial number densities of the metastable neutral particles in the plasma source. These measurements revealed a 10(18) m(-3) order of metastable neutral particles situated in the waveguide, which caused two different modes during the operation of the μ10 thruster. This paper reports a novel spectroscopic measurement system with axial resolution for microwave plasma sources utilizing optical fiber probes.     

Ten-microsecond pulsed molecular beam source and a fast ionization detector

We describe a pulsed gas valve which we have developed for use as a molecular beam source. In order to observe the performance of the pulsed beam source, we also have developed an ionization detector with a rise time of about 1 micros. The pulsed valve produces very intense supersonic molecular beam pulses of about 10 micros duration for light gases such as H2 and He, and of somewhat longer duration for heavier gases. As a new tool for the study of molecular collisions, the pulsed beam technique offers substantial advantages over the conventional continuous-beam method for experiments which are limited by the signal-to background ratio for scattered products.     

Ion source with longitudinal ionization of a molecular beam by an electron beam in a magnetic field

A high-efficiency ion source for a mass-spectrometer’s detector of molecular beams and their scattering products is described. The ion source is designed according to a scheme of impact ionization of a beam particle by a longitudinal electron beam in a magnetic field with a strength of up to 130 mT. The design of the source developed is very flexible and has no limitations for use in any experiments with molecular beams. An ionization efficiency of particles of an atomic helium beam of 10^?3 ions/atom has been achieved. The useful signal-to-background ratio in the detector’s chamber is 3 × 10⁴ during detection of ions with mass-to-charge ratio m/q = 4 amu.     

Intense source of spin-polarized electrons

Spin angular momentum conservation in chemiionization reactions involving optically oriented He(2(3)S) atoms in a flowing helium afterglow has been exploited to yield a source of spin-polarized electrons. Either transversely or longitudinally polarized electrons can be extracted. Polarized electron beam currents of approximately 2 muA have been realized at 40% polarization. The beam has an effective emittance of approximately 2 mrad/cm over the energy range 100-400 eV, an energy spread of less, similar0.15 eV, and the polarization is readily reversible. The source is relatively inexpensive and appears suitable for the majority of low-energy spin-dependent scattering experiments proposed to date.     

Thermal beam of metastable krypton atoms produced by optical excitation

A room-temperature beam of krypton atoms in the metastable 5s[3/2]2 level is demonstrated via an optical excitation method. A Kr-discharge lamp is used to produce vacuum ultraviolet photons at 124 nm for the first-step excitation from the ground level 4p6 1S0 to the 5s[3/2]1 level. An 819 nm Ti:sapphire laser is used for the second-step excitation from 5s[3/2]1 to 5s[3/2]2 followed by a spontaneous decay to the 5s[3/2]2 metastable level. A metastable atomic beam with an angular flux density of 3 x 10(14) s(-1) sr(-1) is achieved at the total gas flow rate of 0.01 cm3/s at STP (or 3 x 10(17) at./s). The dependences of the flux on the gas flow rate, laser power, and lamp parameters are investigated.     

Design of a cavity ring-down spectroscopy diagnostic for negative ion rf source SPIDER

The rf source test facility SPIDER will test and optimize the source of the 1 MV neutral beam injection systems for ITER. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) will measure the absolute line-of-sight integrated density of negative (H(-) and D(-)) ions, produced in the extraction region of the source. CRDS takes advantage of the photodetachment process: negative ions are converted to neutral hydrogen atoms by electron stripping through absorption of a photon from a laser. The design of this diagnostic is presented with the corresponding simulation of the expected performance. A prototype operated without plasma has provided CRDS reference signals, design validation, and results concerning the signal-to-noise ratio.     

Application of beam emission spectroscopy to NBI plasmas of Heliotron J

This paper describes the application of the beam emission spectroscopy (BES) to Heliotron J, having the nonsymmetrical helical-magnetic-axis configuration. The spectral and spatial profile of the beam emission has been estimated by the numerical calculation taking the collisional excitation processes between plasmas (electrons/ions) and beam atoms. Two sets of the sightlines with good spatial resolution are presented. One is the optimized viewing chords which have 20 sightlines and observe the whole plasma region with the spatial resolution Δρ less than ±0.055 using the newly designed viewing port. The other is 15 sightlines from the present viewing port of Heliotron J for the preliminary measurement to discuss the feasibility of the density fluctuation measurement by BES. The beam emission has been measured by a monochromator with a CCD camera. A good consistency has been obtained between the spectral profiles of the beam emission measured by the monochromator and the beam emission spectrum deduced by the model calculation. An avalanche photodiode with an interference filter system was also used to evaluate the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the beam emission in the present experimental setup. The modification of the optical system is being planned to improve the S/N ratio, which will enable us to estimate the density fluctuation in Heliotron J.     

Optical measurements for turbulence characterization in RFX-mod edge

The edge of the reversed field pinch experiment RFX-mod (R=2?m,?a=0.46?m) is characterized by a complex magnetic topology and strong pressure gradients. A set of fast spectroscopic diagnostics has been designed to characterize both main plasma edge parameters and turbulence, including coherent structures (blobs) and radial profiles of the thermodynamic variables. Measurements of the edge radial profiles of electron density (n(e)), temperature (T(e)), and pressure (P(e)) are obtained by a thermal helium beam diagnostic, which locally measures the ratios of the spectral lines emitted by a neutral He cloud puffed into hydrogen plasma discharges. A gas puff imaging system allows the high frequency (1 MHz bandwidth) measurement of the fluctuations of He?I emissivity in the same positions. The system measures both the intermittent behavior of the edge turbulence and n(e), T(e), and P(e) profiles of the corresponding coherent structures, with a resolution down to 6?μs. The optical diagnostics are complemented by a set of triaxial magnetic coils to simultaneously characterize the edge magnetic field.     

Fast ion beam-plasma interaction system

A device has been constructed for the study of the interaction between a fast ion beam and a target plasma of separately controllable parameters. The beam of either hydrogen or helium ions has an energy of 1-4 keV and a total current of 0.5-2 A. The beam energy and beam current can be varied separately. The ion source plasma is created by a pulsed (0.2-10-ms pulse length) discharge in neutral gas at up to 3 x 10(-3) Torr. The neutrals are pulsed into the source chamber, allowing the neutral pressure in the target region to remain less than 5 x 10(-5) Torr at a 2-Hz repetition rate. The creation of the source plasma can be described by a simple set of equations which predict optimum source design parameters. The target plasma is also produced by a pulsed discharge. Between the target and source chambers the beam is neutralized by electrons drawn from a set of hot filaments. Currently under study is an unstable wave in a field-free plasma excited when the beam velocity is nearly equal to the target electron thermal velocity (v(beam) approximately 3.5 x 10(7) cm/s, Te = 0.5 eV).     

Upgrade of the MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) for nuclear diagnostics development for Omega, Z and the NIF

The MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) generates DD and D(3)He fusion products for the development of nuclear diagnostics for Omega, Z, and the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Significant improvements to the system in recent years are presented. Fusion reaction rates, as high as 10(7) s(-1) and 10(6) s(-1) for DD and D(3)He, respectively, are now well regulated with a new ion source and electronic gas control system. Charged fusion products are more accurately characterized, which allows for better calibration of existing nuclear diagnostics. In addition, in situ measurements of the on-target beam profile, made with a CCD camera, are used to determine the metrology of the fusion-product source for particle-counting applications. Finally, neutron diagnostics development has been facilitated by detailed Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport (MCNP) modeling of neutrons in the accelerator target chamber, which is used to correct for scattering within the system. These recent improvements have resulted in a versatile platform, which continues to support the existing nuclear diagnostics while simultaneously facilitating the development of new diagnostics in aid of the National Ignition Campaign at the National Ignition Facility.     

Charge breeding results and future prospects with electron cyclotron resonance ion source and electron beam ion source (invited)

The Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) of the Argonne National Laboratory ATLAS facility will provide low-energy and reaccelerated neutron-rich radioactive beams for the nuclear physics program. A 70 mCi (252)Cf source produces fission fragments which are thermalized and collected by a helium gas catcher into a low-energy particle beam with a charge of 1+ or 2+. An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source functions as a charge breeder in order to raise the ion charge sufficiently for acceleration in the ATLAS linac. The final CARIBU configuration will utilize a 1 Ci (252)Cf source to produce radioactive beams with intensities up to 10(6) ions∕s for use in the ATLAS facility. The ECR charge breeder has been tested with stable beam injection and has achieved charge breeding efficiencies of 3.6% for (23)Na(8+), 15.6% for (84)Kr(17+), and 13.7% for (85)Rb(19+) with typical breeding times of 10 ms∕charge state. For the first radioactive beams, a charge breeding efficiency of 11.7% has been achieved for (143)Cs(27+) and 14.7% for (143)Ba(27+). The project has been commissioned with a radioactive beam of (143)Ba(27+) accelerated to 6.1 MeV∕u. In order to take advantage of its lower residual contamination, an EBIS charge breeder will replace the ECR charge breeder in the next two years. The advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques are compared taking into account the requirements of the next generation radioactive beam facilities.     

Development of a radio-frequency ion beam source for fast-ion studies on the large plasma device

A helium ion beam source (23 kV/2.0 A) has been constructed for studying fast-ion physics in the cylindrical magnetized plasma of the large plasma device (LAPD). An inductive RF source produces a 10(19) m(-3) density plasma in a ceramic dome. A multi-aperture, rectangular (8 cm × 8 cm) three-grid system extracts the ion beam from the RF plasma. The ion beam is injected at a variety of pitch angles with Alfve?nic speeds in the LAPD. The beam current is intense enough to excite magnetic perturbations in the ambient plasma. Measurements of the ion beam profile were made to achieve an optimum beam performance and a reliable source operation was demonstrated on the LAPD.     

A Detector of Magnesium Atomic Beam

A detector of neutral Mg atoms is described. The operating principle of the detector is based on variations in the emissive ability of a tungsten filament exposed to an atomic Mg beam. The emission current of the detector reaches several tens of microamperes, with the flux density of Mg atoms being 10¹⁴ particles/(s cm²). The spatial resolution of the detector is of the order of magnitude of the filament diameter (0.1 mm). The results of the study of changes in the atomic Mg beam shape caused by variation of the temperature of the magnesium vapor source from 440 to 460°C are presented. The detector can be used for improving the spatial resolution of ion-beam profile meters based on the use of a magnesium vapor jet.     

A cryogenic source of slow monochromatic positrons

A cryogenic source of slow monochromatic positrons based on ²²Na radioactive isotope has been developed and produced at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. A monochromatic beam is formed from a continuous β⁺ spectrum with energies of 0–0.5 MeV using a solid neon moderator frozen onto a copper substrate that is cooled to temperatures of 5–7 K. The efficiency of condensation of neon onto the substrate is >99.8%. A slow positron beam with an intensity of 5.8 × 10³ particles/s and a mean energy of 1.2 eV at a spectrum width of 1 eV has been extracted from a ²²Na-based test source. The fraction of decelerated positrons is 1% of the total flux.     

A differentially pumped low-energy ion beam system for an ultrahigh-vacuum atom-probe field-ion microscope

An ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) differentially pumped low-energy (50-3000 eV) ion beam system for the in situ irradiation of specimens in a UHV atom-probe field-ion microscope (FIM) was designed and constructed. The ion beam system consisted of a Finkelstein-type ion source, an Einzel lens, and a magnetic mass analyzer. The ion source was connected to the analyzer chamber by small apertures which resulted in differential pumping between the ion source and the analyzer chamber; during a typical in situ irradiation of a specimen in the atom-probe FIM the total pressure was maintained at approximately 10(-7) Torr. In the case of helium ion irradiation the optimum ion-current density was approximately 0.5 microA cm(-2) for 300-eV He+ ions at the atom-probe FIM specimen. After the completion of a helium ion irradiation the pumpdown time from 5 x 10(-7) to approximately 3 x 10(-10) Torr in the atom-probe FIM chamber was 0.5 h.