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Title: Generation of multicomponent ion beams by a vacuum arc ion source with compound cathode

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3257703· OSTI ID:22053804
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Institute of High Current Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk 634055 (Russian Federation)

This paper presents the results of time-of-flight mass spectrometry studies of the elemental and mass-to-charge state compositions of metal ion beams produced by a vacuum arc ion source with compound cathode (WC-Co{sub 0.5}, Cu-Cr{sub 0.25}, Ti-Cu{sub 0.1}). We found that the ion beam composition agrees well with the stoichiometric composition of the cathode material from which the beam is derived, and the maximum ion charge state of the different plasma components is determined by the ionization capability of electrons within the cathode spot plasma, which is common to all components. The beam mass-to-charge state spectrum from a compound cathode features a greater fraction of multiply charged ions for those materials with lower electron temperature in the vacuum arc cathode spot, and a smaller fraction for those with higher electron temperature within the spot. We propose a potential diagram method for determination of attainable ion charge states for all components of the compound cathodes.

OSTI ID:
22053804
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 81, Issue 2; Conference: ICIS 2009: 13. international conference on ion sources, Gatlinburg, TN (United States), 20-25 Sep 2009; Other Information: (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English