Patent ID: 8658004
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A vapor barrier vacuum isolation system comprising: a collimated beam source positioned within a vacuum chamber that is evacuated to a first pressure level, the collimated beam source being adapted to generate one of an ion beam and an electron beam; a supply of a condensable barrier gas; a supply of cooling material; first and second isolation chambers each in fluid communication with the barrier gas and each including a respective cooling coil configured to receive the cooling material, a working chamber coupled with the first isolation chamber and having a pressure level higher than that of the vacuum chamber and each of the first and second isolation chambers; a series of coaxially-aligned orifices connecting the working chamber, each of the isolation chambers, and the vacuum chamber, wherein each orifice of the series of coaxially-aligned orifices is also coaxially-aligned with an axis of the collimated beam; and a pump adapted to evacuate any uncondensed residual amounts of the barrier gas after the barrier gas has passed through each of the isolation chambers; wherein the system is configured to allow the barrier gas to: pass as a flowing sheet past a first orifice of the series of coaxially-aligned orifices to prevent atmospheric gasses from passing from the working chamber into the isolation chambers; and to undergo a supersonic flow expansion upon entering each of the isolation chambers.