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Physical Review A

High-flux monochromatic ion and electron beams based on laser-cooled atoms

L. Kime, A. Fioretti, Yoann Bruneau, N. Porfido, F. Fuso, Matthieu Viteau, G. Khalili, Neven Šantić, Alexandre Gloter, Bernard Rasser, P. Sudraud, P. Pillet, D. Comparat

Published Sep 30, 2013• 48 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We propose a source for high-brightness ion and electron beams based on the ionization of an effusive atomic beam which is transversely laser cooled and compressed. The very low transverse temperature (mK range) and the relative low density of the starting atomic sample ensure excellent initial conditions for obtaining bright and monochromatic charge sources. In contrast to the standard photoionization techniques used by similar sources, we utilize field ionization of Rydberg atoms. This approach allows a substantial reduction of the required laser power and copes differently with the problems of the energy spread created during the ionization process and of the stochastic space-charge effect. Theoretical modeling and prospective ideas of this emerging technology are given.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.88.033424

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•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations
We propose a source for high-brightness ion and electron beams based on the ionization of an effusive atomic beam which is transversely laser cooled and compressed. The very low transverse temperature (mK range) and the relative low density of the starting atomic sample ensure excellent initial conditions for obtaining bright and monochromatic charge sources. In contrast to the standard photoionization techniques used by similar sources, we utilize field ionization of Rydberg atoms. This approach allows a substantial reduction of the required laser power and copes differently with the problems of the energy spread created during the ionization process and of the stochastic space-charge effect. Theoretical modeling and prospective ideas of this emerging technology are given.
A new type of high-brightness ion source is under development which employs transverse laser cooling and compression of a thermal atomic rubidium beam, followed by in-field photo-ionization. When attached to a focusing column, this Focused Ion Beam (FIB) has the advantage of supplying a higher current in a smaller spot compared to conventional LMIS-based FIBs, thus increasing both the resolution and the speed of the FIB. Furthermore, different types of ion species can be used, broadening the range of applications of the FIB. Simulations using a 10 cm long laser cooling and compression stage and a realistic ionization and acceleration structure, predict an achievable brightness for 87 Rb + of order 10 7 A/m 2 sr eV at an energy spread of less than 1 eV and a current of tens of pA. This would lead to a spot size below 5 nm. Simulations and modeling on the ionization process have led to a better understanding of stochastic heating. Experimental realization of the compact ion source has recently started with the development of an efficient high-flux atom source and a 2D laser cooler and compressor. Progress on simulations and experimental results will be reported.
Photoionization of a laser-cooled and compressed atomic beam from a high-flux thermal source can be used to create a high-brightness ion beam for use in focused-ion-beam instruments. Here we show using calculations and Doppler cooling simulations that an atomic rubidium beam with an equivalent brightness of $2.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7} \mathrm{A}/(\mathrm{m}{}^{2} \mathrm{sr} \mathrm{eV})$ can be created using a compact 5 cm long two-dimensional magneto-optical compressor. If this can be conserved during the photoionization process, this leads to an ion beam brightness an order of magnitude higher than produced by a liquid metal ion source. The source is also capable of producing a flux of $6.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{9} \mathrm{s}{}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ that results in a substantial beam current of 1 nA once fully ionized.
High-brightness ion sources are important for several applications such as focussed ion beam (FIB) systems, in which an ion beam is focussed on a sample to a spot size of a few nanometer. These systems have become an important tool in a wide array of material science and technological applications because they offer both high-resolution imaging as well as micromachining capabilities. The resolution in the most common FIB system, the Gallium-Liquid Metal Ion Source (Ga-LMIS) based FIB, is limited by chromatic aberrations in the lens column due to the energy spread of o2 eV. To reach a higher resolution, a high-brightness ion source is needed with a lower energy spread. In this thesis such a new source is presented, the ultra-cold ion source (UCIS) based on the photo-ionization of a laser-cooled atomic gas confined in a magneto-optical trap. The low temperature (_ 150 µK) of the source makes it possible to reach high-brightness with an extended source size. The charge density at the source is thereby reduced compared to sources with a sharp tip, such as the LMIS, and thus also the Coulombic interactions that deteriorate the beam and increase the longitudinal energy spread. Additionally many different atomic species can be laser-cooled, making the UCIS a versatile source for both heavy and light ion species. Light ion species such as Li are very suitable for imaging purposes without directly damaging the sample. Heavy ion species on the other hand, can be used for manipulation of a sample by sputtering away material at a small scale. A analytical model has been developed to estimate the initial source performance. The extractable current from the ionization volume is estimated based on the influx of atoms, which depends on temperature and atomic density. According to the model, the energy spread oU is proportional to the finite length of the ionization volume, limited by the size of the laser focus waist, and the acceleration field E0. To study the influence of the ionic interactions in the beam in more detail, particle tracking simulations have been performed which take all mutual Coulombic interaction into account under realistic experimental conditions. From these simulations we learned that when the current is increased, the brightness is lowered due to increased stochastic heating. Beam currents between 1 and 100 pA are feasible, with an energy spread much lower than that of the LMIS. At 1 pA the source has a peak brightness up to Br = 8 × 104 Am-2sr-1 with an energy spread _U = 0.08 eV. At 10 pA it has a brightness up to Br = 2 × 104 Am-2sr-1 with an energy spread oU = 0.14 eV. An experimental setup has been built, consisting of a rubidium magneto-optical trap inside a cylindrically symmetric accelerator structure. By using a two-step photo-ionization process, a small fraction of the cold atoms in the cross-section of two laser beams is ionized. A pulsed ionization laser was used to produce ion bunches. A short beam line with a multichannel plate detector was used to obtain both the temporal and the transverse spatial profileof the bunches. Time-of-flight measurements have been performed to characterize the longitudinal energy spread of the beam as function of the beam energy U. We have demonstrated, as predicted by the model, that the energy spread oU is indeed due to the length of the ionization volume in the acceleration field. By lowering the extraction field, well defined beams with an average energy of only 1 eV have been produced with an energy spread as low as 20 meV, more than two orders of magnitude lower than the LMIS. A transition from ballistic behavior at high beam energies, where oU / U, to a space-charge dominated regime at low beam energies, where oU / pU, has been observed. In the cross-over region an interesting new effect has been observed in which the space charge forces reduce the energy spread. The experimental results agree well with detailed particle tracking simulations. The combination of well-defined ion beams at low energy and time-dependent acceleration fields opens new possibilities. Precise manipulation of the bunch distribution in both longitudinal and transverse phase space has been demonstrated. Reduction of the longitudinal energy spread has been realized by switching the accelerator field off before the ions have had a chance to leave the accelerating structure. A reduction by a factor 3 is achieved, which is limited by the inhomogeneity of the field. Calculations show that much stronger reduction is achievable in a more homogenous acceleration field. This would make low-energy spread possible without the need to go to small _z0 and E0, enabling even lower energy spread. We also demonstrated that the accelerator structure, which normally acts as a fixed negative lens, can be transformed into a versatile lens by using time-dependent fields. Control over the focal length and sign, as well as the sign and strength of the spherical aberrations can be obtained by tailoring the applied time-dependent acceleration voltage. The possibility to create a negative spherical aberration may be used to correct for the spherical aberrations in the focal columns which are presently limiting the spatial resolution of FIBs. The dependence of the properties of this lens on the parameters of the applied tri-polar pulse has been studied in detail, both experimentally and with particle tracking simulations, which are in good agreement. Finally, based on lessons learned, the design of a next generation UCIS is briefly discussed, based on photo-ionization of a laser cooled and intensified atomic beam. The principle is similar as an UCIS based on a MOT, but with a higher current density. Calculations show that this source should be able to produce orders of magnitude brighter beams in a more compact configuration. With this new design it should be possible to beat the LMIS not only in energy spread but now also in brightness.
The authors describe a new method for creating a high quality focused ion beam using laser-cooled neutral atoms in a magneto-optical trap as an ion source. They show that this new technique can provide spot resolutions and brightness values that are better than the state of the art in focused ion beams. The source can be used with a range of different ionic species and can be combined with laser cooling techniques to exert unprecedented control over the ion emission, for example, producing single ions “on demand.” The beam quality is a result of a high brightness and a narrow energy distribution, both of which stem from the cold temperature (≈100μK) of the atoms. The ions are produced by subjecting the cold neutral atoms to a photoionization laser, after which they become a compact source of nearly monoenergetic ions. With the application of a potential gradient, the ions form a beam that can be focused via standard ion optical techniques. They discuss estimations based on the initial size of the ion cloud and the energy distribution and show that the resulting beam has a low emittance.
We present an ionization mechanism for use in a cold atom electron source with the goal of producing highly monochromatic electron beams. We experimentally produce a map of the Stark states of 85Rb^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb below the ionization threshold and identify states that undergo selective field ionization. The properties of an electron beam produced by field-assisted ionization of such states are quantified. A theoretical framework is established to predict the improvement to beam quality when ionization is conducted above the ionization threshold, where ionization conditions are typically more favorable than below the threshold. Calculations suggest that selective ionization of Rydberg states may offer a pathway to the production of high-brightness, highly monochromatic ion and electron beams.
A new type of ultra-cold ion source is under development which employs transverse laser cooling and compression of a thermal atomic rubidium beam followed by photo-ionization. The resulting ultra-cold plasma is focused to a nanometer-sized spot using an existing Focused Ion Beam column and this spot can be used for the fabrication of nano-structures. Simulations of a 10 cm long laser-cooling stage and of disorder-induced heating of the resulting ion beam, predict an achievable brightness for87Rb+ of order 107 A/m2 sr eV at an longitudinal energy spread of less than 1 eV and a current of tens of pA, which is substantially better than conventional ion sources. Experimental realization of the compact ion source has recently started with the development of an efficient high-flux atom source and a 2D laser cooler. Progress on these items will be reported.