Ion getter pumps

TL;DR

Ion Getter Pumps are essential for ultra-high-vacuum applications, utilizing Penning cell structures with various configurations to handle different gases, with operational challenges like bake-out and leakage current management.

Contribution

This paper reviews the development and operational principles of Ion Getter Pumps, highlighting new configurations for different gases and addressing reliability issues.

Findings

Multiple IGP configurations for reactive and noble gases

Operational challenges include bake-out procedures and leakage current management

Effective ionization and pumping processes for ultra-high-vacuum creation

Abstract

Ion Getter Pumps (IGP) are used to create ultra-high-vacuum. The IGP operation is triggered by the Penning cell structure, which uses a combination of electrical and magnetic fields to confine electrons and start ionization and getter pumping processes. During the years, more IGP configurations have been developed to cope with different gases, such as reactive gases, hydrogen or noble gases. When the IGP is required to reach pressures lower than 10^(-8) mbar, it needs to be baked out with the whole vacuum system, in order to accelerate the release of the gas atoms trapped inside the pump materials, and the leakage current issue has to be taken into account for a reliable pressure reading.