Simple template-based method to produce Bradbury-Nielsen gates.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Bradbury-Nielsen gates (BNGs) are devices that manipulate charged particles using electric fields.
• Fabricating BNGs with small wire spacings is challenging but crucial for high-frequency operation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a straightforward template-based method for fabricating Bradbury-Nielsen gates.
• To achieve small wire spacings (down to 50 micrometers) with minimal microscopic manipulation.
• To enable high-speed modulation rates for charged particle beams.

Main Methods:

• A template-based fabrication approach was employed.
• Gold-coated tungsten wires (10 micrometers in diameter) were used.
• Four BNGs with varying wire spacings (500, 200, 100, and 50 micrometers) were constructed.
• Fabrication required minimal use of a microscope.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated BNGs with wire spacings as small as 50 micrometers.
• The small wire spacing facilitates modulation rates in the tens of megahertz.
• Fabricated devices were characterized using an imaging detector.
• Experimental performance was compared against theoretical predictions.

Conclusions:

• The developed template-based method offers a simple and effective way to produce high-performance BNGs.
• This fabrication technique allows for precise control over wire spacing, leading to enhanced device functionality.
• The ability to create BNGs with small gaps opens possibilities for advanced charged particle manipulation at high frequencies.