Atomic magnifier

1992/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingeniaritza

Industrialists will soon be able to control their samples very closely, as the first nuclear microprobe can already be used in France.

The actions that can be carried out through this microprobe are, among others, the detection of possible atomic defects in electronic components, the measurement of atmospheric effects on the surface of a metal and the evaluation of the composition or distribution of calcium in part of a hair in relation to cosmetic products.

The microprobe was created by the Bordeaux nuclear study centre. Microfiber a flow of high-energy ions to the sample surface, accelerated by a particle accelerator. The flow of particles passes through a diaphragm. This diaphragm is made of iridium platinum, one hundredth of a millimeter in diameter and is focused on four electromagnetic lenses that reduce it ten times. The resulting particle flow is small enough to be introduced into the elementary components of the sample.

The microanalysis is performed from the analysis of
the products transferred by the particles to the surface of the sample.