Fast Ion Beam Analysis System

Equipment

The SAFIR Platform is built around an electrostatic Van de Graaff accelerator and four dedicated analysis chambers, each equipped for one or more types of ion beam measurement.

Van de Graaff positive-ion accelerator

The accelerator is an AN-2000 electrostatic Van de Graaff, supplied by High Voltage Engineering Europa. It delivers parallel beams of singly charged, monokinetic ions (H⁺, D⁺, He⁺, C⁺, N⁺), in an energy range from 100 keV to 2.2 MeV. The experiment room is radiologically shielded, which allows deuteron beams to be used.

The tank of the SAFIR Van de Graaff accelerator
The Van de Graaff accelerator tank
  • Type: AN-2000 electrostatic Van de Graaff (High Voltage Engineering Europa)
  • Available ions: H⁺, D⁺, He⁺, C⁺, N⁺ (singly charged, monokinetic)
  • Energy range: 100 keV to 2.2 MeV
  • Energy resolution: of the order of 100 eV at 1 MeV
  • Beam divergence: 0.5 mrad
  • Typical beam cross-section: 1 mm²
  • Current: from 1 nA to a few µA
  • Radiation protection: shielded experiment room, allowing the use of deuteron beams

Analysis chambers

Each chamber is optimised for one or more types of measurement, depending on its vacuum level and equipment.

Inside the SAFIR multipurpose chamber, with the sample holder and detectors
Multipurpose chamber

Multipurpose chamber

Multipurpose chamber under high vacuum (10⁻⁷ mbar) for routine RBS, NRA and NRP, equipped with a sample holder that can take up to 60 samples.

Inside the SAFIR goniometric chamber, with the motorised sample holder
Goniometric chamber

Goniometric chamber

Goniometric chamber under high vacuum (10⁻⁷ mbar) dedicated to ion channelling studies, equipped for RBS, NRA and NRP.

Goniometer and electrostatic detector of the MEIS setup, in the ultra-high-vacuum chamber
Goniometer and electrostatic detector, MEIS
Sample introduction airlock of the MEIS setup, multiple sample holders
Sample introduction airlock, MEIS

MEIS chamber

Ultra-high-vacuum chamber (10⁻¹² mbar) dedicated to the MEIS setup (goniometer, toroidal electrostatic analyser, 2D detector), connected to a preparation chamber equipped with deposition tools (evaporators and an ion gun) and surface characterisation (LEED/Auger), and a variable-temperature goniometer (130 to 1000 K). RBS and NRA are already used there routinely; the toroidal electrostatic analyser specific to the MEIS technique is being recommissioned and is not yet available for routine measurements. More information and photos of the setup can be found on the MEIS page.

CAD view of the ERDA beamline under development
ERDA line under development (CAD view)

ERDA line and chamber under development

A new high-vacuum (10⁻⁷ mbar) line and chamber are being developed with a view to optimising studies by the ERDA method. This project is carried out as part of the PEPR SCIAM programme.

Design: S. Steydli

Complementary platforms at INSP

SAFIR is listed among the accredited technical platforms of Sorbonne Université. Other INSP and Sorbonne Université platforms are complementary to SAFIR: upstream for sample fabrication, or in parallel for other types of characterisation on the same sample.

Within the research team

SAFIR belongs to the INSP research team Nanometric layers: formation, interfaces, defects, which has other equipment directly available to its members:

  • ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition): thin-film deposition, one atomic layer at a time.
  • Isotopic furnace: thermal treatment and isotopic labelling of samples, upstream of isotopic tracing analysis (NRA/NRP) on SAFIR.
  • EPR, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance: characterisation of paramagnetic defects in materials.

Upstream: sample fabrication

In parallel: other characterisations