Fast Molecular Nitrogen Beam

Abstract

Apparatus has been developed for producing a molecular N₂ beam covering the energy range 5–1000 ev. The technique includes ionization by electron impact, acceleration and focusing, and neutralization by charge transfer. Energy spread is 0.5 ev. The beam intensity ranges from 10⁸ molecules per second at low energy to 10¹⁰ at high energy. The absolute beam intensity can be determined within 20%. Charge transfer efficiency, beam intensity monitoring, and adaptability of the apparatus to the studies of ionization cross sections and surface phenomena are discussed.