Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
11:59
High-speed Particle Image Velocimetry Near Surfaces
Published on: June 24, 2013
A large aperture magnification lens for velocity map imaging
Yongwei Zhang1, Chung-Hsin Yang, Shiou-Min Wu
1Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, The Netherlands.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|February 2, 2011
Summary
A new electrostatic lens magnifies ion and electron images in velocity map imaging by up to 5x. This enhancement allows detailed study of atomic and molecular dynamics without compromising detector use or field strength.
Area of Science:
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Chemical Physics
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Velocity map imaging (VMI) is a powerful technique for studying charged particle dynamics.
- Standard VMI setups have limitations in spatial resolution for low-energy particles.
- Enhancing magnification in VMI can provide more detailed insights into reaction dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and implement a large aperture electrostatic Einzel lens for VMI.
- To achieve magnification of low-energy ion or electron images by up to a factor of 5.
- To ensure the lens is compatible with standard VMI operation and various data acquisition modes.
Main Methods:
- Designed and constructed a large aperture electrostatic Einzel lens.
- Integrated the lens into a standard velocity map imaging apparatus.
- Characterized lens performance using (2+1) Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization (REMPI) of O((3)P(2)) atoms.
- Evaluated the lens with photodissociation of the NO-Ar van der Waals complex.
Main Results:
- The electrostatic Einzel lens successfully magnifies images by up to a factor of 5.
- The lens allows normal VMI operation without blocking the detector.
- Field strength in the interaction region remains constant with or without magnification.
- The lens is compatible with both "crush" and "slicing" modes of VMI.
Conclusions:
- The developed electrostatic Einzel lens significantly enhances the capability of VMI for studying low-energy charged particles.
- This magnification allows for higher resolution imaging of ion recoil and molecular dissociation.
- The lens is a versatile tool for advanced atomic and molecular dynamics studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy
Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
01:25Overview of Electron Microscopy
The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.
01:22Overview of Microscopy Techniques
The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...
01:16Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...