UE52_PGM Nano cluster trap Beamline

HZB Nanocluster trap endstation for x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy of cold gaseous ions in a field of up to 5 T.

NanoclusterTrap Station

We offer a unique cryogenic linear quadrupole ion trap with 5 T superconducting solenoid for x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy of size-selected cluster ions, molecular ions, and ionic complexes. The radio-frequency ion trap is operated in the space-charge limit for high signal-to-noise ratio. Magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation is the standard ion source, but other ion sources can be added as well.

Because of its complexity, this experimental setup requires thorough consultation with the scientist in charge. Please contact us well ahead of time to discuss experimental feasibility. This is currently the only instrument world-wide that allows performing XMCD studies of cold gas-phase ions.

Experimental capabilities:

• metal ion source (single/dual target magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation with additional reactive gas port)
• hexapole collision/reaction cell for preparation of ionic complexes and oxides
• quadrupole mass filter for monodisperse ion beams
• cryogenic ion trap (liquid-helium-cooled) with ion temperatures down to 7.4 K
• buffer gas cooling for Zeeman relaxation
• applied homogeneous magnetic field (0 - 5 T) coaxial with ion trap axis
• reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer for partial ion yield detection of x-ray absorption and XMCD spectra

Further ion sources (e.g. electrospray ionization) can be made available upon request.

See here for details of beamline UE52-PGM.

schematic view of the experimental setup

view of the experimental setup installed at UE52-PGM

Methods

Nanocluster Trap is jointly developed and operated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Universität Freiburg, TU Berlin, Kyushu University, and Toyota Technological Institute.

Nanocluster Trap and its ongoing upgrade program are partially funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) under Grant No. BMBF-05K13VF2 and No. BMBF-05K16VF1.