Abstract
We present a new apparatus for the generation of a high flux metastableatomic beam. This source has provided a high flux of metastablehelium and argon atoms via a cold cathode discharge with fluxes formetastable helium of up to 9 × 1014 sr−1 s−1.This new source can be translated in three dimensions whilst under vacuum andcooled to 77 K. Experimental results demonstrate that the distance of the sourcenozzle from the skimmer is important in obtaining the optimum flux. Under typicaloperating conditions, this optimal distance is 9–10 mm using He. Time-of-flightspectra show that for Ar the average thermal velocity of the beam is 540 m s−1and can be reduced to 330 m s−1by cooling the source with liquid nitrogen.
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