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Updated: May 23, 2026

Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
Published on: May 3, 2019
Creation and recovery of a W(111) single atom gas field ion source
Jason L Pitters1, Radovan Urban, Robert A Wolkow
1National Institute for Nanotechnology, National Research Council of Canada, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada. jason.pitters@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Abstract:
Tungsten single atom tips have been prepared from a single crystal W(111) oriented wire using the chemical assisted field evaporation and etching method. Etching to a single atom tip occurs through a symmetric structure and leads to a predictable last atom unlike etching with polycrystalline tips. The single atom tip formation procedure is shown in an atom by atom removal process. Rebuilds of single atom tips occur on the same crystalline axis as the original tip such that ion emission emanates along a fixed direction for all tip rebuilds. This preparation method could be utilized and developed to prepare single atom tips for ion source development.
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