Diamonds Utilized in the Development of Single Ion Detector with High Spatial Resolution

Abstract

We are developing the Ion Photon Emission Microscopy (IPEM) system at JAEA. To observe a map by IPEM, the position where an ion strikes a scintillator placed over a microelectronics circuit is recorded together with the ion induced event. Since the spatial resolution is determined by the spot size of the Ion Beam Induced Luminescence (IBIL), the scintillator is one of the most important parts of IPEM. In this study we propose that a diamond containing a high concentration of Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centers can be used as a scintillator with high spatial resolution. For both Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce (YAG:Ce) and the diamond containing NV centers, the minimum spot size is a few micrometers. The IBIL intensity from the diamond containing NV centers is higher than that from YAG:Ce. According to these results, we suggest that a diamond containing NV centers is a rival candidate of a YAG:Ce from the point of view of single ion detection with high spatial resolution.

Real-Time Measurement of Ion Energies for Heavy Ions

“…The luminescence detection test is usually conducted by powder scintillators such as ZnS:Ag. However, the ZnS:Ag position resolution was insufficient, since the luminous diameter was about 20 µm, which was about 10 times larger than that of the incident ion beam [9]. In addition, light scattering occurred around the grain boundary of the ZnS:Ag powders, and the incident ions were deflected away as they were getting into the sample.…”