Current status of the Tohoku microbeam system at Tohoku University and other facilities

Abstract

We developed two microbeam lines, MB-I and MB-II, which both have quadrupole lenses and slits on heavy, rigid, anti-vibration tables. The MB-I beam diameter of 400 nm was achieved by reducing the parasitic magnetic field. MB-II is a simpler version of MB-I; both beamlines have various applications, and both are controlled by LabVIEW-based software and a programable logic controller (PLC). The beam scanners are downstream of the quadrupole lenses and controlled by a CompactRIO system. An automatic beam-focusing and focal guidance system reduces the time required for experimental configuration; this system is in routine use by researchers at Tohoku University. Microbeam experiments can easily be performed using this system. To further expand the applications, we developed MB-II-AQUA, which is based on MB-II but has advanced modularization and packaging. MB-II-AQUA is commercially available and retains the performance of MB-II, but is easier to use. A control system for the quadrupole lens and slit has been installed at the Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, which is a leading microbeam research facility in Japan.