Dynamic features of ion guiding by nanocapillaries in an insulating polymer

Abstract

Dynamic features of the guiding of ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$ ions through nanocapillaries in insulating PET polymers were investigated for incident energies from $3.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$. The deflection angle of the transmitted ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$ ions shows a few oscillations before approaching an equilibrium value. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of a scenario where the deflection angles of transmitted ions are governed by charge patches formed on the inner wall of the capillary. In addition, the memory effects of different charge patches retained from previous irradiations are studied.