NIST Focused Lithium Ion Beam Microscope (IMAGE)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST Focused Lithium Ion Beam Microscope

Caption

The NIST focused lithium ion beam microscope traps and cools a gas of lithium atoms to just a few millionths of a degree above absolute zero (MOT section.) Another laser ionizes the atoms and then electric fields accelerate them, straightening out their flight and focus them on a target. The team's new approach opens up the possibility of creating a whole category of FIBs using any one of up to 20 different elements.

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NIST

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