COLDBEAMS · ultra-COLD gas for the production of a Bright Electron And Monochromatic ion Source

The objective of COLDBEAMS is to increase knowledge-sharing and mutual understanding between two Academic partners, Laboratoire Aimé Cotton (LAC), France and Dipartimento di Fisica of the Università di Pisa (UNIPI), Italy, and one SME, Orsay Physics (OP), France. The technical-scientific focus of this strategic partnership is on the development of a new electron and ion source based on ionized ultra-cold atoms. The use of this revolutionary incident source could create a real breakthrough in the Focused Ion Beams (FIB) or in energy electron source technology with substantial improvements in terms of monochromaticity, brightness and minimum spot size.The joint research project is designed to exploit complementary expertise of the participants and to create synergies between them. Orsay Physics is one of the leading companies in realization and commercialization of FIB and start to commercialized UHV focused electron beam columns, dedicated to surface analysis systems. Thus, the OP team should provide the partners the know-how on the ion/electron optics, electronics and industrial production requirements. OP will also provide the industrialization of a prototype and its commercialization. LAC from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), is the co-ordinateur of the project and, as the UNIPI, team is specialized in laser cooling of atoms. The LAC, is also specialist in ultra-cold plasma physics wheras the UNIPI is specialized on nanolithography through laser-cooled atomic beams. Thus, the LAC and UNIPI team should provide to OP the know-how on cold atom technology. The LAC team should develop the sources for Focused Ion and Electron Beams based on cold atom technology, why the UNIPI team should develop an ion source, but capable to be complementary to the LAC one, in particular develop a tool for the “single ion on demand” implantation.