Patent ID: 6147354
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A universal ion beam source with a closed-loop ion-emitting slit capable of emitting an ion beam toward an object located in a position reachable by said ion beam, comprising:hollow housing means that function as a cathode of said ion beam source;anode means located in said hollow housing means and spaced from said cathode at an anode-cathode distance to form an ionization gap therebetween for ionization and acceleration of ions formed in said gap during operation of said ion beam source;magnetic field generating means in mangetoconductive relationship with said anode means and said cathode for forming a closed magnetoconductive circuit passing through said anode means, said ionization gap, said cathode, and said magnetic field generating means;a closed-loop ion-emitting slit formed in said cathode in the path of said magnetoconductive circuit, said closed-loop ion-emitting slit having predetermined geometric dimensions;electric power supply means for maintaining said anode means under a positive charge and said cathode under a negative charge;means for the supply of a working medium into said hollow housing of said cathode means to form an ion beam when said working medium passes through said ionization gap, said beam having a direction of propagation towards said object; andmeans for moving said anode with respect to said cathode in said direction of propagation for adjusting said anode-cathode distance and thus adjusting said performance characteristics of said ion beam source.