High frequency modulation of a gallium liquid metal ion source using a laser beam and thermal effects

It has been demonstrated experimentally that Ga LMI sources can be modulated at relatively high frequencies using a laser beam to thermally heat the emitter tip. Using a 10 mu m laser spot size, experimental LMI source response times of 1.5 mu s were achieved. A computer simulation of the process in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 458 - 468
Main Authors Jousten, K, Holmes, J F, Orloff, J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bristol IOP Publishing 14.03.1991
Institute of Physics
Subjects
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Electrical and thermal conduction in amorphous and liquid metals and alloys
Electronic conduction in metals and alloys
Electronic transport in condensed matter
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
Liquid state
Frequency modulation
Liquid metal
Temperature
Laser beam
Theoretical study
Frequency
Gallium Atomic ions
Experimental study
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Summary:It has been demonstrated experimentally that Ga LMI sources can be modulated at relatively high frequencies using a laser beam to thermally heat the emitter tip. Using a 10 mu m laser spot size, experimental LMI source response times of 1.5 mu s were achieved. A computer simulation of the process indicates that with a 1 mu m laser spot size, response times as short as 10 ns should be possible. A study of the temperature dependence of the current suggests that the modulation is additive and that the dominant thermal effect is a change in surface tension of the liquid metal at the tip. Graphs. 21 ref.--AA
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0022-3727
1361-6463
DOI:10.1088/0022-3727/24/3/034