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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kelsall, Jack, Radic, Aleksandar, Ellis, John, Ward, David J., Jardine, Andrew
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.12628
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author Kelsall, Jack
Radic, Aleksandar
Ellis, John
Ward, David J.
Jardine, Andrew
author_facet Kelsall, Jack
Radic, Aleksandar
Ellis, John
Ward, David J.
Jardine, Andrew
contents Free-jet atomic, cluster and molecular sources are typically used to produce beams of low-energy, neutral particles and find application in a wide array of technologies, from neutral atom microscopes to instruments for surface processing. We present a simple analytical theory that is applicable to many of these sources, when (i) the nozzle-skimmer distance is such that free molecular flow is achieved and (ii) there is negligible interference within the skimmer itself. The utility of the model is demonstrated by comparing experimental data with calculations performed using the theory. In particular, we show that skimmer interference is negligible compared to attenuation by 'background' gas for room-temperature beams. Our treatment does not depend on any free parameters and obviates the complexity of previous theories. As a result, we are able to devise a number of design recommendations to minimize interference in sources operating with cryogenic-temperature beams.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_12628
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Minimising Interference in Low-Pressure Supersonic Beam Sources
Kelsall, Jack
Radic, Aleksandar
Ellis, John
Ward, David J.
Jardine, Andrew
Atomic Physics
Free-jet atomic, cluster and molecular sources are typically used to produce beams of low-energy, neutral particles and find application in a wide array of technologies, from neutral atom microscopes to instruments for surface processing. We present a simple analytical theory that is applicable to many of these sources, when (i) the nozzle-skimmer distance is such that free molecular flow is achieved and (ii) there is negligible interference within the skimmer itself. The utility of the model is demonstrated by comparing experimental data with calculations performed using the theory. In particular, we show that skimmer interference is negligible compared to attenuation by 'background' gas for room-temperature beams. Our treatment does not depend on any free parameters and obviates the complexity of previous theories. As a result, we are able to devise a number of design recommendations to minimize interference in sources operating with cryogenic-temperature beams.
title Minimising Interference in Low-Pressure Supersonic Beam Sources
topic Atomic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.12628