Characterization of a high-brightness, laser-cooled Li+ ion source
Jamie Ryan Gardner, William McGehee, Jabez J. McClelland · Journal of Applied Physics · 2019
Ion sources based on laser cooling have recently provided new pathways to high-resolution microscopy, ion milling, and ion implantation. Here, we present the design and detailed characterization of a 7Li magneto-optical trap ion source (MOTIS) with a peak brightness of (1.2 ± 0.2) × 105 A m−2 sr−1 eV−1 and a maximum continuous current over 1 nA. These values significantly surpass previous Li MOTIS performance benchmarks. Using simple models, we discuss how the performance of this system relates to fundamental operating limits. This source will support a range of projects using lithium ion beams for surface microscopy and nanostructure characterization, including Li+ implantation for studies of ionic transport in energy storage materials.