The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer
In this study, a four-grid retarding potential analyzer (RPA) with drilled grid holes is investigated, focusing on correlations between grid orientations and resulting characteristics. The individual grids have a hexagonal hole pattern and can be mounted rotated relative to each other in multiples o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIP Publishing LLC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | AIP Advances |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0250806 |
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| author | Thomas Trottenberg Florian Bansemer Marcel Hesse Holger Kersten Jens Laube Viktor Schneider Björn Schuster Lars Seimetz Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber |
| author_facet | Thomas Trottenberg Florian Bansemer Marcel Hesse Holger Kersten Jens Laube Viktor Schneider Björn Schuster Lars Seimetz Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber |
| author_sort | Thomas Trottenberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, a four-grid retarding potential analyzer (RPA) with drilled grid holes is investigated, focusing on correlations between grid orientations and resulting characteristics. The individual grids have a hexagonal hole pattern and can be mounted rotated relative to each other in multiples of 90°. An ion beam with a small divergence and a narrow energy distribution directed perpendicularly to the RPA grid system is used. We find that for certain grid configurations, particularly when grids are aligned, the characteristics deviate from the expectation of strictly monotonic behavior in plots of the collector current against the discriminator voltage. Specifically, aligning two of the inner grids leads to a positive slope and a distinct hump at voltages below the falling edge. When all three inner grids are aligned, the hump becomes significantly more pronounced, with the signal intensity nearly doubling. Several models are presented to reproduce and understand these observations. We find that grid holes can act as scattering centers, and a finite grid thickness mitigates the potential reduction that occurs inside the grid holes. Suggestions for the design of RPAs are derived based on the findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d4e25367bc447bbba846e80affe34d5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2158-3226 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIP Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d4e25367bc447bbba846e80affe34d52025-08-20T03:06:24ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262025-03-01153035030035030-1610.1063/5.0250806The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzerThomas Trottenberg0Florian Bansemer1Marcel Hesse2Holger Kersten3Jens Laube4Viktor Schneider5Björn Schuster6Lars Seimetz7Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber8Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 19, Kiel 24098, Germanyvon Hoerner & Sulger GmbH, Schloßplatz 8, Schwetzingen 68723, Germanyvon Hoerner & Sulger GmbH, Schloßplatz 8, Schwetzingen 68723, GermanyInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 19, Kiel 24098, GermanyOHB System AG, Universitätsallee 27-29, Bremen 28359, GermanyInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 19, Kiel 24098, GermanyInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 19, Kiel 24098, GermanyInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 19, Kiel 24098, GermanyInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 19, Kiel 24098, GermanyIn this study, a four-grid retarding potential analyzer (RPA) with drilled grid holes is investigated, focusing on correlations between grid orientations and resulting characteristics. The individual grids have a hexagonal hole pattern and can be mounted rotated relative to each other in multiples of 90°. An ion beam with a small divergence and a narrow energy distribution directed perpendicularly to the RPA grid system is used. We find that for certain grid configurations, particularly when grids are aligned, the characteristics deviate from the expectation of strictly monotonic behavior in plots of the collector current against the discriminator voltage. Specifically, aligning two of the inner grids leads to a positive slope and a distinct hump at voltages below the falling edge. When all three inner grids are aligned, the hump becomes significantly more pronounced, with the signal intensity nearly doubling. Several models are presented to reproduce and understand these observations. We find that grid holes can act as scattering centers, and a finite grid thickness mitigates the potential reduction that occurs inside the grid holes. Suggestions for the design of RPAs are derived based on the findings.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0250806 |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Trottenberg Florian Bansemer Marcel Hesse Holger Kersten Jens Laube Viktor Schneider Björn Schuster Lars Seimetz Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer AIP Advances |
| title | The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer |
| title_full | The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer |
| title_fullStr | The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer |
| title_short | The role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer |
| title_sort | role of grid geometry and relative orientation in the performance of a retarding potential analyzer |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0250806 |
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