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Neutral beam microscopy with a reciprocal space approach using magnetic beam spin encoding

Author

Listed:
  • Morgan Lowe

    (Swansea University)

  • Yosef Alkoby

    (Swansea University)

  • Helen Chadwick

    (Swansea University)

  • Gil Alexandrowicz

    (Swansea University)

Abstract

The emerging technique of neutral beam microscopy offers a non-perturbative way of imaging surfaces of various materials which cannot be studied using conventional microscopes. Current neutral beam microscopes use either diffractive focusing or pin-hole scanning to achieve spatial resolution, and are characterised by a strong dependence of the imaging time on the required resolution. In this work we introduce an alternative method for achieving spatial resolution with neutral atom beams which is based on manipulating the magnetic moments of the beam particles in a gradient field, and is characterised by a much weaker dependence of the imaging time on the image resolution. The validity of the imaging approach is demonstrated experimentally by reconstructing one dimensional profiles of the beam which are in good agreement with numerical simulation calculations. Numerical simulations are used to demonstrate the dependence of the signal to noise on the scan resolution and the topography of the sample, and assess the broadening effect due to the spread of velocities of the beam particles. The route towards implementing magnetic encoding in high resolution microscopes is discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Morgan Lowe & Yosef Alkoby & Helen Chadwick & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2024. "Neutral beam microscopy with a reciprocal space approach using magnetic beam spin encoding," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51175-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51175-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oded Godsi & Gefen Corem & Yosef Alkoby & Joshua T. Cantin & Roman V. Krems & Mark F. Somers & Jörg Meyer & Geert-Jan Kroes & Tsofar Maniv & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2017. "A general method for controlling and resolving rotational orientation of molecules in molecule-surface collisions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, August.
    2. Yosef Alkoby & Helen Chadwick & Oded Godsi & Hamza Labiad & Matthew Bergin & Joshua T. Cantin & Ilya Litvin & Tsofar Maniv & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2020. "Setting benchmarks for modelling gas–surface interactions using coherent control of rotational orientation states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Helen Chadwick & Mark F. Somers & Aisling C. Stewart & Yosef Alkoby & Thomas J. D. Carter & Dagmar Butkovicova & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2022. "Stopping molecular rotation using coherent ultra-low-energy magnetic manipulations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    4. Bodil Holst & William Allison, 1997. "An atom-focusing mirror," Nature, Nature, vol. 390(6657), pages 244-244, November.
    5. M. Barr & A. Fahy & J. Martens & A. P. Jardine & D. J. Ward & J. Ellis & W. Allison & P. C. Dastoor, 2016. "Unlocking new contrast in a scanning helium microscope," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-5, April.
    6. Sabrina D. Eder & Adam Fahy & Matthew G. Barr & J. R. Manson & Bodil Holst & Paul C. Dastoor, 2023. "Sub-resolution contrast in neutral helium microscopy through facet scattering for quantitative imaging of nanoscale topographies on macroscopic surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
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    1. Helen Chadwick & Mark F. Somers & Aisling C. Stewart & Yosef Alkoby & Thomas J. D. Carter & Dagmar Butkovicova & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2022. "Stopping molecular rotation using coherent ultra-low-energy magnetic manipulations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Sabrina D. Eder & Adam Fahy & Matthew G. Barr & J. R. Manson & Bodil Holst & Paul C. Dastoor, 2023. "Sub-resolution contrast in neutral helium microscopy through facet scattering for quantitative imaging of nanoscale topographies on macroscopic surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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