Variable energy, high flux, ground-state atomic oxygen source

Claim 2

A variable energy, high flux, ground-state atomic oxygen source comprising: (a) means for producing a high density beam of molecules which will emit O - ions when bombarded with electrons; (b) means for producing a high current stream of electrons at a low energy level of between 1 and 15 electron volts and for passing said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of O - ions; (c) means for accelerating said O - ions to a selected energy level between 3 and 100 electron volts; (d) means for directing a multiple pass laser beam through said stream of O - ions to strip off the excess electrons from a plurality of said O - ions to produce ground-state O atoms within said stream; (e) electrostatic deflection means for deflecting the path of said O - ions and said electrons; and, (f) means for stopping said O - ions and said electrons and for allowing only said ground-state O atoms to continue as the source of the atoms of interest.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrostatic deflection means comprises: (a) a first pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned before the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said O - ions; and, (b) a second pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned after the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said O - ions.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 and additionally comprising: means for producing an intense longitudinal magnetic field to contain all said means of claim 1 whereby the space-charge limited current of said stream of O - ions is maximized.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: said means for producing an intense magnetic field comprises an elongated cylindrical coil connected to a source of electric current and adapted to produce a magnetic field in the range of 1-10 Tesla, wherein said coil is disposed to contain all said means of claim 1 therein.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mean for directing a multiple pass laser beam through said stream of O - ions to strip off the excess electrons comprises: (a) a pair of curved mirrors disposed within said magnetic field producing coil so as to have said stream of O - ions pass therebetween; and, (b) a source of a laser beam disposed outside of said coil and adapted to direct said laser beam therefrom longitudinally into said coil and onto one of said pair of mirrors from whence it is directed back and forth between said pair of mirrors to form a focused region of multiple passes of said laser beam within said coil through which said stream of O - ions passes.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said means for producing a high current stream of electrons at a low energy level and for passing said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of O - ions is adjustable to set the energy level of said high current stream of electrons at a selected level within a range of between 1 and 15 electron volts.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for producing a high current stream of electrons and passing said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules and said accelerating means in combination comprise: (a) filament means connected to a high current source of electrical energy for producing a high current source of electrons; (b) a plurality of gates of an electrically conductive material having apertures therethrough disposed with said apertures forming a path between said filament means and said electrostatic deflection means, one of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules between said filament means and high density beam of molecules and a second of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules after said high density beam of molecules with respect to said filament means; (c) an electrode of an electrically conductive material surrounding said filament means in non-contacting relationship therewith; (d) a source of a negative electrical voltage connected to said electrode to repel said electrons from said filament means; (e) a source of a first positive electrical voltage connected to said one of said gates; and, (f) a source of a second positive electrical voltage connected to said second of said gates whereby the relative voltages determine the focusing of the electrons and set the electron voltage level of said electrons and said resultant stream of O - ions.

Claim 9

A variable energy, high flux, ground-state atomic oxygen source comprising: (a) a high density beam of molecules which will emit O - ions when bombarded with electrons; (b) a high current electron gun producing a high current stream of electrons at a low energy level disposed to pass said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of O - ions, said gun including means for accelerating said O - ions to a desired energy level between 3 and 100 electron volts; (c) a multiple pass laser beam disposed to pass through said stream of O - ions and photodetach the excess electrons from a plurality of said O - ions to produce ground-state O atoms within said stream; (d) electrostatic deflection plates disposed to deflect the paths of said O - ions and said electrons; and, (e) Faraday cups disposed to stop said O - ions and said electrons and allow only said ground-state O atoms to continue as the source of the atoms of interest.

Claim 10

A variable energy, high flux, ground-state atomic oxygen source comprising: (a) a high density beam of molecules which will emit O - ions when bombarded with electrons; (b) a high current electron gun producing a high current stream of electrons at a low energy level disposed to pass said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of O - ions, said gun including means for accelerating said O - ions to a desired energy level between 3 and 100 electron volts; (c) a multiple pass laser beam disposed to pass through said stream of O - ions and photodetach the excess electrons from a plurality of said O - ions to produce ground-state O atoms within said stream; (d) electrostatic deflection plates disposed to deflect the paths of said O - ions and said electrons; and, (e) Faraday cups disposed to stop said O - ions and said electrons and allow only said ground-state O atoms to continue as the source of the atoms of interest.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said electrostatic deflection plates comprise: (a) a first pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned before the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said O - ions; and, (b) a second pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned after the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said O - ions.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 and additionally comprising: an elongated superconducting cylindrical coil connected to a source of electric current and disposed to contain all the elements of claim 8 therein for producing an intense magnetic field longitudinally aligned with said stream of O - ions whereby the spacecharge limited current of said stream is maximized.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein apparatus for producing said multiple pass laser beam comprises: (a) a pair of curved mirrors disposed within said magnetic field producing coil so as to have said stream of O - ions pass therebetween; and, (b) a source of a laser beam disposed outside of said coil and adapted to direct said laser beam therefrom longitudinally into said coil and onto one of said pair of mirrors from whence it is directed back and forth between said pair of mirrors to form a focused region of multiple passes of said laser beam within said coil through which said stream of O - ions passes.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said electron gun is adjustable to accelerate and set the energy level of said high current stream of electrons at a selected level within a range of between 1 and 15 electron volts and the energy level of said O ions at a selected level within a range of between 3 and 100 electron volts.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electron gun comprises: (a) filament means connected to a high current source of electrical energy for producing a high current source of electrons; (b) a plurality of gates of an electrically conductive material having apertures therethrough disposed with said apertures forming a path between said filament means and said electrostatic deflection plates, one of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules between said filament means and high density beam of molecules and a second of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules after said high density beam of molecules with respect to said filament means; (c) an electrode of an electrically conductive material surrounding said filament means in non-contacting relationship therewith; (d) a source of a negative electrical voltage connected to said electrode to repel said electrons from said filament means; (e) a source of a first positive electrical voltage connected to said one of said gates; and, (f) a source of a second positive electrical voltage connected to said second of said gates whereby the relative voltages determine the focusing of the electrons and set the electron voltage level of said electrons and said resultant stream of O - ions.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 and additionally comprising the step of: producing an intense magnetic field to contain all the elements used in the steps of claim 14 whereby the space-charge limited current of the combined stream is maximized.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 wherein the step of producing a magnetic field thereof comprises the step of: disposing all the elements used in the steps of claim 14 within an elongated superconducting cylindrical coil operably connected to a source of electric current to produce a magnetic field in the range of 1 to 10 Tesla.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 wherein said step of directing a multiple pass laser beam through the stream of O - ions to strip off the excess electrons comprises the steps of: (a) disposing a pair of curved mirrors within the magnetic field producing coil so as to have the combined stream pass therebetween; and, (b) disposing a source of a laser beam outside of the coil and positioning it to direct the laser beam therefrom longitudinally into the coil and onto one of the pair of mirrors from whence it is directed back and forth between the pair of mirrors to form a focused region of multiple passes of the laser beam within the coil through which the combined stream passes.

Claim 21

The method of claim 14 wherein: said step of producing a high current stream of electrons and passing the stream of electrons through the high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of O - ions includes adjustably setting the energy level of the high current stream of electrons at a selected level within the range of 1 and 15 electron volts and setting the energy level of the stream of O - ions at a selected level within the range of 3 and 100 electron volts by the additional steps of: (a) providing filament means connected to a high current source of electrical energy for producing a high current source of electrons; (b) disposing a plurality of gates of an electrically conductive material having apertures therethrough with the apertures forming a path between the filament means and the electrostatic deflection means wherein one of the gates is disposed adjacent to the high density beam of molecules between the filament means and high density beam of molecules and a second of the gates is disposed adjacent to the high density beam of molecules after the high density beam of molecules with respect to the filament means; (c) surrounding the filament means with an electrode of an electrically conductive material which is not in contact therewith; (d) connecting a source of a negative electrical voltage to the electrode to repel the electrons from the filament means; (e) connecting a source of a first positive electrical voltage to the one of the gates; and, (f) connecting a source of a second positive electrical voltage to the second of the gates whereby the relative voltages determine the focusing of the electrons and set the electron voltage level of the electrons and the resultant combined stream of O - ions.

Claim 22

A source of variable energy, high flux, groundstate atoms/molecules comprising: (a) means for producing a high density beam of atoms/molecules which will emit ionized atoms/molecules when bombarded with electrons; (b) means for producing a high current stream of electrons at a low energy level and for passing said stream of electrons through said high density beam of atoms/molecules to produce a stream of ionized atoms/molecules at an energy level of between 3 and 100 electron volts; (c) means for directing a multiple pass laser beam through said stream to strip off the excess electrons from a plurality of said ionized atoms/molecules to produce ground-state atoms/molecules within said stream; (d) electrostatic deflection means for deflecting the path of said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons; and, (e) means for stopping said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons stream and for allowing only said ground-state atoms/molecules to continue as the source of the atoms/molecules of interest.

Claim 23

A source of variable energy, high flux, groundstate atoms/molecules comprising: (a) means for producing a high density beam of atoms/molecules which will emit ionized atoms/molecules when bombarded with electrons; (b) means for producing a high current stream of electrons at a low energy level and for passing said stream of electrons through said high density beam of atoms/molecules to produce a stream of ionized atoms/molecules at an energy level of between 3 and 100 electron volts; (c) means for directing a multiple pass laser beam through said stream to strip off the excess electrons from a plurality of said ionized atoms/molecules to produce ground-state atoms/molecules within said stream; (d) electrostatic deflection means for deflecting the path of said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons; and, (e) means for stopping said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons stream and for allowing only said ground-state atoms/molecules to continue as the source of the atoms/molecules of interest.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said electrostatic deflection means comprises: (a) a first pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned before the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said ionized atoms/molecules; and, (b) a second pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned after the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said ionized atoms/molecules.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 19 and additionally comprising: means for producing an intense magnetic field to contain all said means of claim 19 whereby the space-charge limited current of said stream of ionized atoms/molecules is maximized.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: said means for producing an intense magnetic field comprises an elongated superconducting cylindrical coil operably connected to a source of electric current to produce a magnetic field in the range of 1 to 10 Tesla and disposed to contain all said means of claim 19 therein.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said mean for directing a multiple pass laser beam through said stream of ionized atoms/molecules to strip off the excess electrons comprises: (a) a pair of curved mirrors disposed within said magnetic field producing coil so as to have said stream pass therebetween; and, (b) a source of a laser beam disposed outside of said coil and adapted to direct said laser beam therefrom longitudinally into said coil and onto one of said pair of mirrors from whence it is directed back and forth between said pair of mirrors to form a focused region of multiple passes of said laser beam within said coil through which said stream of ionized atoms/molecules passes.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein: said means for producing a high current stream of electrons and for passing said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of ionized atoms/molecules includes means for adjustably accelerating said high current stream of electrons to a selected energy level of between 1 and 15 electron volts and for adjustably accelerating said stream of ionized atoms/molecules to a selected energy level of between 3 and 100 electron volts.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said means for producing a high current stream of electrons, passing said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules and accelerating said electrons and ionized atoms/molecules comprises: (a) filament means connected to a high current source of electrical energy for producing a high current source of electrons; (b) a plurality of gates of an electrically conductive material having apertures therethrough disposed with said apertures forming a path between said filament means and said electrostatic deflection means, one of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules between said filament means and high density beam of molecules and a second of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules after said high density beam of molecules with respect to said filament means; (c) an electrode of an electrically conductive material surrounding said filament means in non-contacting relationship therewith; (d) a source of a negative electrical voltage connected to said electrode to repel said electrons from said filament means; (e) a source of a first positive electrical voltage connected to said one of said gates; and, (f) a source of a second positive electrical voltage connected to said second of said gates whereby the relative voltages determine the focusing of the electrons and set the electron voltage level of said electrons and said resultant stream of ionized atoms/molecules.

Claim 30

A source of variable energy, high flux, ground-state atoms/molecules comprising: (a) a high density beam of molecules which will emit ionized atoms/molecules when bombarded with electrons; (b) a high current electron gun producing a high current stream of electrons at an energy level of between 1 and 15 electron volts disposed to pass said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of ionized atoms/molecules and accelerate said stream of ionized atoms/molecules to an energy level of 3 to 100 electron volts; (c) a multiple pass laser beam disposed to pass through said stream of ionized atoms/molecules and photodetach the excess electrons from a plurality of said ionized atoms/molecules to produce ground-state atoms/molecules within said stream; (d) electrostatic deflection plates disposed to deflect the paths of said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons; and, (e) Faraday cups disposed to stop said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons and allow only said ground-state atoms/molecules to continue as the source of the atoms/molecules of interest.

Claim 31

A source of variable energy, high flux, ground-state atoms/molecules comprising: (a) a high density beam of molecules which will emit ionized atoms/molecules when bombarded with electrons; (b) a high current electron gun producing a high current stream of electrons at an energy level of between 1 and 15 electron volts disposed to pass said stream of electrons through said high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of ionized atoms/molecules and accelerate said stream of ionized atoms/molecules to an energy level of 3 to 100 electron volts; (c) a multiple pass laser beam disposed to pass through said stream of ionized atoms/molecules and photodetach the excess electrons from a plurality of said ionized atoms/molecules to produce ground-state atoms/molecules within said stream; (d) electrostatic deflection plates disposed to deflect the paths of said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons; and, (e) Faraday cups disposed to stop said ionized atoms/molecules and said electrons and allow only said ground-state atoms/molecules to continue as the source of the atoms/molecules of interest.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said electrostatic deflection plates comprise: (a) a first pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned before the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said ionized atoms/molecules; and, (b) a second pair of electrostatic deflection plates positioned after the point at which said multiple pass laser beam passes through said ionized atoms/molecules.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 26 and additionally comprising: an elongated superconducting cylindrical coil operably connected to a source of electric current to produce a magnetic field and disposed to contain all the elements of claim 26 therein for producing an intense magnetic field in the range of 1 to 10 Tesla longitudinally aligned with said stream of ionized atoms/molecules whereby the space-charge limited current of said stream of ionized atoms/molecules is maximized.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein apparatus for producing said multiple pass laser beam comprises: (a) a pair of curved mirrors disposed within said magnetic field producing coil so as to have said stream of ionized atoms/molecules pass therebetween; and, (b) a source of a laser beam disposed outside of said coil and adapted to direct said laser beam therefrom longitudinally into said coil and onto one of said pair of mirrors from whence it is directed back and forth between said pair of mirrors to form a focused region of multiple passes of said laser beam within said coil through which said stream of ionized atoms/molecules passes.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein: said electron gun is adapted to adjustably accelerate said high current stream of electrons to set the energy level thereof at a selected energy level within a range of between 1 and 15 electron volts and to adjustably accelerate said stream of ionized atoms/molecules to set the energy level thereof at a selected energy level within a range of between 3 and 100 electron volts.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said electron gun comprises: (a) filament means connected to a high current source of electrical energy for producing a high current source of electrons; (b) a plurality of gates of an electrically conductive material having apertures therethrough disposed with said apertures forming a path between said filament means and said electrostatic deflection plates, one of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules between said filament means and high density beam of molecules and a second of said gates being disposed adjacent to said high density beam of molecules after said high density beam of molecules with respect to said filament means; (c) an electrode of an electrically conductive material surrounding said filament means in noncontacting relationship therewith; (d) a source of a negative electrical voltage connected to said electrode to repel said electrons from said filament means; (e) a source of a first positive electrical voltage connected to said one of said gates; and, (f) a source of a second positive electrical voltage connected to said second of said gates whereby the relative voltages determine the focusing of the electrons and set the electron voltage level of said electrons and said resultant stream of ionized atoms/molecules.

Claim 39

The method of claim 32 and additionally comprising the step of: producing an intense magnetic field in the range of 1 to 10 Tesla to contain all the elements used in the steps of claim 32 whereby the space-charge limited current of the combined stream is maximized.

Claim 40

The method of claim 33 wherein the step of producing a magnetic field comprises: disposing all the elements used in the steps of claim 32 within an elongated cylindrical coil operably connected to a source of electric current.

Claim 41

The method of claim 34 wherein said step of directing a multiple pass laser beam through the stream of ionized atoms/molecules to strip off the excess electrons comprises the steps of: (a) disposing a pair of curved mirrors within the magnetic field producing coil so as to have the stream pass therebetween; and, (b) disposing a source of a laser beam outside of the coil and positioning it to direct the laser beam therefrom longitudinally into the coil and onto one of the pair of mirrors from whence it is directed back and forth between the pair of mirrors to form a focused region of multiple passes of the laser beam within the coil through which the stream passes.

Claim 42

The method of claim 32 wherein: said step of producing a high current stream of electrons and passing the stream of electrons through the high density beam of molecules to produce a stream of ionized atoms/molecules includes adjustably setting the energy level of the high current stream of electrons at a selected level within the range of 1 and 15 electron volts and adjustably setting the energy level of the stream of ionized atoms/molecules at a selected level within the range of 3 and 100 electron volts by the additional steps of: (a) providing filament means connected to a high current source of electrical energy for producing a high current source of electrons; (b) disposing a plurality of gates of an electrically conductive material having apertures therethrough with the apertures forming a path between the filament means and the electrostatic deflection means wherein one of the gates is disposed adjacent to the high density beam of molecules between the filament means and high density beam of molecules and a second of the gates is disposed adjacent to the high density beam of molecules after the high density beam of molecules with respect to the filament means; (c) surrounding the filament means with an electrode of an electrically conductive material which is not in contact therewith; (d) connecting a source of a negative electrical voltage to the electrode to repel the electrons from the filament means; (e) connecting a source of a first positive electrical voltage to the one of the gates; and, (f) connecting a source of a second positive electrical voltage to the second of the gates whereby the relative voltages determine the focusing of the electrons and set the electron voltage level of the electrons and the resultant combined stream of ionized atoms/molecules.