Simultaneous detection of positive and negative secondary ions

Abstract

A secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) instrument is described that is configured with two SIMS detectors that are both low-field extraction, quadrupole-based filters. Secondary ions are generated by sputtering with a liquid-metal ion gallium source and column of the type that is common on two-beam electron microscopes. The gallium ion beam, or focused ion beam achieves sub-100 nm focus with a continuous current of up to 300 pA. Positive secondary ions are detected by one SIMS detector, and simultaneously, negative secondary ions are detected by the second SIMS detector. The SIMS detectors are independently controlled for recording mass spectra, concentration depth profiles, and secondary ion images. Examples of simultaneous positive and negative SIMS are included that demonstrate the advantage of this facility for surface analysis and depth profiling. The SIMS secondary ion collection has been modeled using the ray tracing program simion (“simion”, Scientific Instrument Services, Inc., Ringoes, NJ, 08551-1054, see http://www.simion.com) in order to understand the interaction of the secondary ions of opposite polarities in the extraction volume for the purpose of optimizing secondary ion collection.