Formation of hollow heavy ion beams in plasma lens

Hollow cylindrical high-energy heavy ion beams are an efficient driver for target irradiation to achieve highly compressed matter. This paper is devoted to the study of how hollow beams form with the use of a plasma lens. Calculations and measurements were performed with a 200 MeV/amu C⁺⁶ beam.     

Monoatomic and cluster beam effect on ToF-SIMS spectra of self-assembled monolayers on gold

Self-assembled monolayers represent well-defined systems that is a good model surface to study the effect of primary ion beams used in secondary ion mass spectrometry. The effect of polyatomic primary beams on both aliphatic and aromatic self-assembled monolayers has been studied. In particular, we analysed the variation of the relative secondary ion yield of both substrate metal-cluster (Au_n⁻) in comparison with the molecular ions (M⁻) and clusters (M_xAu_y⁻) by using Bi⁺, Bi₃⁺, Bi₅⁺ beams. Moreover, the differences in the secondary ion generation efficiency are discussed. The main effect of the cluster beams is related to an increased formation of low-mass fragments and to the enhancement of the substrate related gold-clusters. The results show that, at variance of many other cases, the static SIMS of self-assembled monolayers does not benefit of the use of polyatomic primary ions.     

On the study of ion-acoustic solitary waves and double-layers in a drift multicomponent plasma with electron-inertia

Using the pseudopotential method, theoretical investigation has been made on the firstorder Korteweg-deVries ion-acoustic solitons in a multicomponent plasma consisting of warm positive ions, negative ions and isothermal electrons. The effects of electron-inertia and drift motion of the ions on the amplitudes and widths of the solitons have been studied in a plasma having (H⁺, Cl⁻), (H⁺, O⁻), (He⁺, H⁻) and (He⁺, O⁻) ions. Ion-acoustic double-layers have also been investigated for such plasmas. It has been found that drift velocity and electron-inertia have significant contribution on the formation of double-layers in multicomponent plasma     

Elektronenausbeute bei Lithium-Ionenbeschuß von Bildwandlerflächen

The electron yield in the case of bombardment of a V2A type stainless steel plate by Li⁺ ions with energies between 20 and 80 keV was measured. The yield is increasing from 2·5 electrons per ion for 20keV to 4 for 70 keV. The electron yield in case of transmission by Li⁺ ions (number of electrons emitted on the back side of the foil per incident ion) of thin carbon foils with a layer of evaporated silver was measured. For this purpose the electrons emitted on the foil back side are accelerated in an immersion objective lens, and the resulting crossover of the beam is focussed into a Faraday cage by a projector lens. The electron yield depends on the ion energy and the foil thickness. Its value lies between 1 for a 1050 AU thick silver foil and 40 keV and 4 for a 380 AU thick silver foil and 80 keV. The range of Li⁺ ions in silver can be estimated by extrapolation of the yield curves. It is increasing from 600 AU for 10 keV to 2300 AU for 80 keV. The electron yield may not be characteristic for the target material since in a vacuum of 10^?4Torr the formation of a thin layer of polymerized hydrocarbon on the surface must be expected.     

Infrared multiple-photon dissociation of ion-molecules in a beam

First experiments on the infrared multiple-photon dissociation with ion molecules in beams have been carried out. A mass selected beam of SF⁺₅ parent ions is crossed with a focused pulsed CO₂ laser beam. Using mass spectroscopy for the detection, fragmentation into SF⁺₄ and SF⁺₃ has been observed. The relative yield and power dependence have been measured. Features of the MPD of ions in beams are discussed.     

Ion track effect on point defect production in SiC

Low-temperature (40 K) photoluminescence (PL) measurements were used to follow the defect formation induced in the 4H-SiC epitaxial layer by irradiation with 200 keV H⁺ and 800 keV C⁺ in the fluence range of 5×10⁹–3.5×10¹² ions/cm². After irradiation, the PL spectra show the formation of some sharp lines, called “alphabet lines”, located in the wavelength range of 425–443 nm, due to the recombination of excitons at structural defects induced by ion beams. The analysis of luminescence line intensity versus ion fluence allows us to mark two different groups of peaks, namely the P1 group (e, f and g lines) and the P2 group (a, b, c and d lines). The normalised yield of P1 group lines increases with ion fluence and reaches a maximum value, while the normalised yield of P2 group lines exhibits a threshold fluence and then increases until a saturation value is reached. These different trends indicate that, while the P1 group lines are related to the primary defects created by ion beams (interstitial defects, vacancies), the P2 group lines can be associated with some complex defects (divacancy, antisites). The trends are similar for irradiation with H⁺ and C⁺ ions; however, the defect formation occurs in the fluence range of 5×10⁹–10¹¹ ions/cm² for C⁺ irradiation and 10¹¹–4×10¹² ions/cm² for H⁺ irradiation. Taking into account the different values of energy deposited in elastic collision, a dependence on the ion type was found: the C⁺ ion results in being less effective in defect production as a higher defect recombination occurs inside its dense cascade.     

Multi-element focused ion beams using compact microwave plasma ion source

Focused ion beams (FIB) are widely used for research and applications in nanoscience and technology. We have developed a compact microwave plasma based multi element FIB (MEFIB) system in order to widen the applications and overcome the limitations faced by conventional Liquid Metal Ion Source (LMIS) based FIB systems, that provide primarily Ga ions. The MEFIB source provides high density plasmas (∼1.5 × 10¹¹ cm⁻³) in a compact cross section. Recently the ion energy spread in the plasma meniscus from where the beams are extracted is found to be small (∼5 eV) [1–3]. The beam extraction and focusing are carried out using electrostatic multi electrode assembly. AXCEL INP and SIMION simulation codes are employed for the design of electrostatic Einzel lenses for beam focusing. The beam focal point is measured using a specially designed three slit Faraday cup and the spot size is measured by the micrography of craters formed by the focused ion beams impinging on copper and aluminium substrates. The initial experimental results show a focused beam spot size of ∼ 25 micron which is in good agreement with the simulations. By further reduction of electrode apertures and operating the second Einzel lens at higher potentials, submicron focused ion beams can be expected.     

New aspects of transient magnetic fields

Strong attenuations of transient magnetic fields are observed in Fe and Gd host for Coulomb excited^2HSi(2 ₁ ⁺ )- and²⁴Mg(2 ₁ ⁺ )-ions in their single-electron charge state as well as for multi-electron⁶²Ni(2 ₁ ⁺ ) ions. These effects are shown to be induced by the heavy ion beams used. The perturbations are found to be dynamic in nature and are attributed to a momentary loss of ferromagnetism of the host. This feature is also present in many earlier measurements using heavy ion beams but was not identified. The magnitude of the attenuations seems to be correlated with the energy loss of the beam ions in the ferromagnet.     

An improved radio frequency heavy ion source

Abstract

An improved r.f. heavy ion source, which can operate with gases, liquids and solids is described. The operating temperature of the ion source may reach 1000°C. It can therefore, generate ion beams of a considerable number of elements. including metallic ions. At present, ion beams of S⁺, Al⁺, As⁺. Zn⁺, Mg⁺, Cd⁺, Ag⁺, Sm⁺, Te⁺, Se⁺, Sn⁺, In⁺, Hg⁺, etc. have been extracted. The extracted total beam current ranges from several hundred microamperes to the order of milliampere. The useful fraction of ion in the total beam is 70–90%. Life span of the source ranges from 40 hours to more than 100 hours. The emittance of the source is 3 × 10^?6 cm rad. Structure and operating characteristics of this ion source are discussed.     

Creating Ti:Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> media with pinched beams of electrons and Ti<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>+</Superscript> ions

The collective acceleration of multiply charged titanium ions on pinched electron beams and the mechanisms of titanium ion implantation into sapphire crystals are studied. Efficient Ti³⁺ ion implantation is achieved by irradiating sapphire crystals with high current picosecond beams of electrons and Ti ⁿ⁺. The ions are shock-implanted into regular positions of the crystalline lattice, replacing Al³⁺ ions.     

On the nature of ion bombardment-induced phase transformations in films of transition metals

Abstract

Electron diffraction studies have been made of polycrystalline Ni films irradiated with well separated beams of ions of different nature, namely ions of inert (He⁺, Ne⁺, Ar⁺, Kr⁺, Xe⁺) and reactive (N⁺ and O⁺) gases. The Ni films were prepared under vacuum conditions (P? 3·10^?6Pa during evaporation) preventing an appreciable contamination of the films with impurities. The samples were irradiated at T? 300 K with ion beams of energies from 10 to 100 keV in the dose range between 5·10¹⁶ cm^?2 and the value leading to sample destruction.

Irradiation with noble gas ions revealed no phase transitions in the Ni films. A similar result was obtained in irradiation of Fe and Cr films with He⁺ ions. The bombardment of Ni films with reactive gas ions does cause changes in the lattice structure of the samples under study, depending on the nature of the bombarding ions. The N⁺ ion bombardment gives rise to the hcp phase with the lattice parameters typical of the Ni₃N compound, and the O⁺ ion bombardment results in the fcc phase with the NiO-type parameter.

The conclusion is drawn on the chemical origin of the phase transformations in the Ni films under ion bombardment. The necessity of revising the concept about the polymorphous nature of phase transformations induced in the films of transition metals by ion bombardment is substantiated.     

Electrostatic cnoidal waves and soliton structures in multi‐ions plasmas

Using a reductive perturbation technique (RPT), the Korteweg‐de Vries (KdV) equation for nonlinear electrostatic waves in multi‐ion plasmas is derived with appropriate boundary conditions. Furthermore, compressive and rarefactive cnoidal wave and soliton solutions are discussed. In our model, the multi‐ion plasma consists of light dynamic warm ions, heavy cold ions, and inertialess electrons, which follows the Maxwell‐Boltzmann distribution. It is observed that in such an unmagnetized multi‐ion plasma, two characteristic electrostatic waves i.e., slow ion‐acoustic (SIA) waves and fast ion‐acoustic (FIA) waves, can propagate. The results are discussed by considering two types of multi‐ion plasmas i.e., H⁺–O⁺–e plasma and H^?–O⁺–e plasma that exist in space plasmas. It is found that for H⁺–O⁺–e plasma, the SIA cnoidal wave and soliton form both positive (compressive) and negative (rarefactive) potential pulses, which depend on the temperature and density of the light and warm ions. However, only electrostatic positive potential structures are obtained for FIA cnoidal wave and soliton in H⁺–O⁺–e plasma. In the case of H^?–O⁺–e plasma, the SIA cnoidal wave and soliton form only compressive structures, while the FIA cnoidal wave and soliton compose rarefactive structures. The effects of light ions' density and temperature on nonlinear potential structures are investigated in detail. The parametric results are also demonstrated, which are applicable to space and laboratory multi‐ion plasma situations.     

Isotope selective loading of an ion trap using resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization

We have demonstrated that resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization of atomic beams provides an effective tool for isotope selective loading of ions into a linear Paul trap. Using a tunable, narrow-bandwidth, continuous wave (cw) laser system for the ionization process, we have succeeded in producing Mg⁺ and Ca⁺ ions at rates controlled by the atomic beam flux, the laser intensity, and the laser frequency detuning from resonance. We have observed that with a proper choice of control parameters, it is rather easy to load a specific number of ions into a string. This observation has direct applications in quantum optics and quantum computation experiments. Furthermore, resonant photo-ionization loading facilitates the formation of large isotope-pure Coulomb crystals. Received: 21 December 1999 / Published online: 11 May 2000     

Role of neon in a decaying high-purity helium plasma

The evolution of the electron and atomic and molecular metastable densities and the radiation of the decaying plasma of helium with a 10^–5-fraction of neon additive is experimentally studied. A model of elementary processes in He–Ne plasma is constructed, which describes the formation and destruction of HeNe⁺ and Ne₂ ⁺ molecular ions and their contribution to the formation of the afterglow spectrum by the electronion recombination. The various criteria influence of neon on the parameters of the decaying plasma are studied. The possibility of determining the amount of neon in helium by measuring the relative intensities of helium molecular bands and neon spectral lines in the afterglow is considered.     

On the formation of the central plasma sheet by echo clusters of ion beams

Multiple energy dispersion structures of H⁺ ions that were observed at the passage of the INTERBALL-Auroral satellite through the plasma sheet at a geocentric distance of about 3R _E, where R _E is the radius of the Earth, on November 3, 1996, have been analyzed. The structure in the plasma sheet boundary layer, which has direct dispersion in energy and invariant latitude, in the range of 0.5–10.0 keV (velocity-dispersed ion structure) is an “autograph” of accelerated ion beams (primary beamlets) generated in the current sheet along the geomagnetic tail. The central plasma sheet contains five dispersion structures c1–c5 with the average energy ranging from 2.80 to 7.36 keV. The average energy of the structures increases with a decrease in the latitude. The event under consideration is a case of the regime of formation of the central plasma sheet by echo beamlets of the accelerated ion beam in the absence of a diffusion thermalized population of ions. This phenomenon is possibly explained by the fact that a magnetically quite period was observed three days before the passage of the satellite, when the regime of long-term diffusion of particles from the central plasma sheet occurred.     

Preparing a laser cooled plasma for stopping highly charged ions

We present a new cooling scheme for the preparation of highly charged ions for future in-trap precision experiments. A plasma of laser cooled ²⁴Mg⁺ ions trapped in a 3D harmonic confinement potential is used as a stopping medium for the highly charged ions. We focus on the dynamic evolution of the plasma, determining suitable cooling conditions for fast recooling of the ²⁴Mg⁺ ions. The results of a realistic parallel simulation of the complete stopping process presented here indicate that a small, constant detuning of the laser frequency is sufficient for subsequent recooling of the plasma, thus maintaining the stability of the plasma.     

Le satellite Encelade source d'ions N dans la magnétosphère de Saturne

The first pass of the Cassini probe in the vicinity of Saturn, above the E-ring, demonstrated a plasma consisting of water group ions (H⁺, O⁺, OH⁺, H₂O⁺) with a small N⁺ ion component (3%). Using a simple model for the transport of magnetospheric ions, we show that the N⁺ ions can be traced back to the Enceladus satellite. Such a result can be explained by the existence in this icy satellite, supposed to be still geologically active, of volatile components such as ammonia NH₃, or by the previous implantation of N⁺ ions of external origin on its surface. To cite this article: M. Bouhram et al., C. R. Physique 6 (2005).     

Laser induced ion emission from wide bandgap materials

At fluences well below the threshold for plasma formation, we have characterized the direct desorption of atomic ions from fused silica surfaces during 157 nm irradiation by time-resolved mass spectroscopy. The principal ions are Si⁺ and O⁺. The emission intensities are dramatically increased by treatments that increase the density of surface defects. Molecular dynamics simulations of the silica surface suggest that silicon ions bound at surface oxygen vacancies (analogous to E′ centers) provide suitable configurations for the emission of Si⁺. We propose that emission is best understood in terms of a hybrid mechanism involving both antibonding chemical forces (Menzel-Gomer-Redhead model) and repulsive electrostatic forces on the adsorbed ion after laser excitation of the underlying defect.     

Scattering of plasma-jet ions by a tantalum target

The possibility of recording a chemical reaction occurring on the surface of a metal target in a collisionless plasma jet by analyzing the longitudinal-velocity spectra of jet-plasma ions scattered by the target is shown. The target is a Ta strip with a 3×0.1 mm cross section. The ion energy is 30 eV. It is found that, after rapid heating of the target to 1000 K, the current produced by scattered ions decreases and is then restored in a time of 40 s for nitrogen ions and 60 s for hydrogen ions. The relaxation of the current correlates with the accumulation of an intermediate reagent (probably, TaO₂Na⁺ ions) on the target surface; the reagent participates further in the formation of experimentally observed ions with a mass of 245±1 (probably, TaO₂Na⁺ · H₂O).     

Multipurpose implanter for high technology development

To provide basic operations of semiconductor and radiation materials technologies, a multipurpose implanter with intense ion beams was developed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics. The generated beamparameters are as follows: ions are H⁺, O⁺; C⁺; the ion energy is up to 200 keV; the beam current is up to 2 mA; and the implantation mode is continuous. The size of the target to be processed can reach 76 × 76 mm². During the implanter operation, the target chamber vacuum reaches 10^?4 Pa. The entire process of target irradiation is fully automated.