Application of keV and MeV ion microbeams through tapered glass capillaries

Abstract

We have developed a method to produce micrometer-sized beams of keV energy highly charged ions (HCIs) and MeV energy protons/helium ions with tapered glass capillary optics for the applications of micrometer sized surface modifications and a biological tool, respectively. The transmission experiments of keV HCIs through the glass capillaries show a density enhancement of about 10, beam guiding up to 5°, and the extracted beam keeping the initial charge-state. The combination of MeV ion beams and the capillary with a thin end window at its outlet was used for the irradiation of a part of nucleus of a HeLa cell in culture solution. Escherichia coli cells are irradiated by MeV proton microbeam to determine the minimum dose to stop the single flagellar motor. Scanning irradiation of polymer surface by the beam extracted from the capillary in solution containing acrylic acid was found to provide a deposition layer with large affinity with water.