Angular scattering of 1–50 keV ions through graphene and thin carbon foils: Potential applications for space plasma instrumentation
Abstract
We present experimental results for the angular scattering of ∼1–50 keV H, He, C, O, N, Ne, and Ar ions transiting through graphene foils and compare them with scattering through nominal ∼0.5 μg cm{sup −2} carbon foils. Thin carbon foils play a critical role in time-of-flight ion mass spectrometers and energetic neutral atom sensors in space. These instruments take advantage of the charge exchange and secondary electron emission produced as ions or neutral atoms transit these foils. This interaction also produces angular scattering and energy straggling for the incident ion or neutral atom that acts to decrease the performance of a given instrument. Our results show that the angular scattering of ions through graphene is less pronounced than through the state-of-the-art 0.5 μg cm{sup −2} carbon foils used in space-based particle detectors. At energies less than 50 keV, the scattering angle half width at half maximum, ψ{sub 1/2}, for ∼3–5 atoms thick graphene is up to a factor of 3.5 smaller than for 0.5 μg cm{sup −2} (∼20 atoms thick) carbon foils. Thus, graphene foils have the potential to improve the performance of space-based plasma instruments for energies below ∼50 keV.
- Authors:
-
- Southwest Research Institute, P. O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510 (United States)
- Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, 3251 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304 (United States)
- Publication Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 22255024
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- Review of Scientific Instruments
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 85; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0034-6748
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; ARGON IONS; CHARGE EXCHANGE; ELECTRON EMISSION; GRAPHENE; MASS SPECTROMETERS; PERFORMANCE; PLASMA; SCATTERING; SENSORS; TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD
Citation Formats
Ebert, Robert W., E-mail: rebert@swri.edu, Allegrini, Frédéric, Fuselier, Stephen A., Nicolaou, Georgios, Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249, Bedworth, Peter, Sinton, Steve, Trattner, Karlheinz J., and Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80303. Angular scattering of 1–50 keV ions through graphene and thin carbon foils: Potential applications for space plasma instrumentation. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web. doi:10.1063/1.4866850.
Ebert, Robert W., E-mail: rebert@swri.edu, Allegrini, Frédéric, Fuselier, Stephen A., Nicolaou, Georgios, Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249, Bedworth, Peter, Sinton, Steve, Trattner, Karlheinz J., & Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80303. Angular scattering of 1–50 keV ions through graphene and thin carbon foils: Potential applications for space plasma instrumentation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866850
Ebert, Robert W., E-mail: rebert@swri.edu, Allegrini, Frédéric, Fuselier, Stephen A., Nicolaou, Georgios, Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249, Bedworth, Peter, Sinton, Steve, Trattner, Karlheinz J., and Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80303. 2014.
"Angular scattering of 1–50 keV ions through graphene and thin carbon foils: Potential applications for space plasma instrumentation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866850.
@article{osti_22255024,
title = {Angular scattering of 1–50 keV ions through graphene and thin carbon foils: Potential applications for space plasma instrumentation},
author = {Ebert, Robert W., E-mail: rebert@swri.edu and Allegrini, Frédéric and Fuselier, Stephen A. and Nicolaou, Georgios and Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249 and Bedworth, Peter and Sinton, Steve and Trattner, Karlheinz J. and Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80303},
abstractNote = {We present experimental results for the angular scattering of ∼1–50 keV H, He, C, O, N, Ne, and Ar ions transiting through graphene foils and compare them with scattering through nominal ∼0.5 μg cm{sup −2} carbon foils. Thin carbon foils play a critical role in time-of-flight ion mass spectrometers and energetic neutral atom sensors in space. These instruments take advantage of the charge exchange and secondary electron emission produced as ions or neutral atoms transit these foils. This interaction also produces angular scattering and energy straggling for the incident ion or neutral atom that acts to decrease the performance of a given instrument. Our results show that the angular scattering of ions through graphene is less pronounced than through the state-of-the-art 0.5 μg cm{sup −2} carbon foils used in space-based particle detectors. At energies less than 50 keV, the scattering angle half width at half maximum, ψ{sub 1/2}, for ∼3–5 atoms thick graphene is up to a factor of 3.5 smaller than for 0.5 μg cm{sup −2} (∼20 atoms thick) carbon foils. Thus, graphene foils have the potential to improve the performance of space-based plasma instruments for energies below ∼50 keV.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4866850},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22255024},
journal = {Review of Scientific Instruments},
issn = {0034-6748},
number = 3,
volume = 85,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}