title: Improvement of the mass resolution of the atom probe using a dual counter-electrode.
abstract: As compared to other techniques, the mass resolution of the 3D atom probe is rather poor. This low mass resolution derives from the spread in energy of field-evaporated ions. In this work, the single counter-electrode used to remove atoms from the specimen was replaced with a dual counter-electrode. A positive standing voltage V(PA) is applied on the electrode facing the specimen while the second electrode is grounded. As a result, ions experience a post-acceleration between electrodes that lowers energy deficits of ions resulting in an improvement in the mass resolution. This paper reports the study of the resulting improvement in mass resolution as a function of the post-acceleration voltage. It is also shown that, because of the evaporation pulse, ions also undergo a dynamic post-deceleration in the between electrodes. This post-deceleration contributes to the mass resolution increase. Our results show that this very simple device makes it possible to significantly improve the mass resolution of the atom probe. For a low post-acceleration voltage, the mass resolution is 800 FWHM and 200 at full-width tenth-maximum.
authors.affiliation: GPM - UMR 6634 CNRS - Université et INSA de Rouen, Faculté des sciences, Université de Rouen, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan Cedex, France. bernard.deonihout@univ-rouen.fr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deconihout
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saint-Martin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jarnot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bostel