A design for a cylindrical mirror analyser for use in auger spectroscopy

The design of a cylindrical mirror analyser for use in Auger spectroscopy is discussed. The main feature of the design is the use of hemicylinders in place of the usual full cylinders. Although there is a consequent loss in solid angle of collection the loss is offset by a relaxation in machining tolerances, greater access to the specimen, and a simpler method of construction. An analyser built to this design has been operated and found to have a resolution of 0.35% for a semiangular aperture of ± 6°. The limitation on resolution appears to be set by the size of the incident electron beam on the target.Auger and loss spectra obtained with the analyser are shown and compared with those for the same material obtained with a conventional retarding-field analyser.