A metastable helium atom source directly pulsed by a nozzle-skimmer discharge

Abstract

The discharge excited atom beam source we designed uses a trigger electrode between a nozzle and skimmer to generate a metastable helium atom beam that is directly discharge pulsed. A pulsed discharge current up to 200 mA maintained between the needle cathode behind the nozzle and the skimmer anode produced an intense pulsed metastable helium atom beam equivalent to a continuous total flux of with mechanical chopping.