Performance predictions for a laser intensified thermal beam for use in high resolution Focused Ion Beam instruments

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through calculations and simulations that a compact laser-cooled atomic beam can produce a high-brightness ion source for Focused Ion Beam instruments, surpassing current technologies in brightness.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using a 2D magneto-optical compressor to generate a high-brightness ion beam from a thermal source, with detailed performance predictions.

Findings

Achieves a brightness of 2.1 x 10^7 A/(m^2 sr eV) at 1 nA current

Uses a 5 cm long 2D magneto-optical compressor

Surpasses current liquid metal ion source brightness by over an order of magnitude

Abstract

Photo-ionization 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 Focus Ion Beam (FIB) instruments. Here we show using calculations and Doppler cooling simulations that an atomic rubidium beam with a brightness of $2.1 \times 10^7 A/(m^2\,sr\,eV)$ at a current of 1 nA can be created using a compact 5 cm long 2D magneto-optical compressor which is more than an order of magnitude better than the current state of the art Liquid Metal Ion Source.