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The CSIRO-GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe

System Overview

Lens System

Beam Shaping Controls

Scanning, Beam Deflection

Detectors

Data Acquisition and Analysis

Target Chamber



NMP target chamber



Return to NMP microanalysis

Target Chamber

The chamber is based on a 150 mm O.D. central tube which permits an effective lens working distance of 80 mm to be achieved, and provides ample space for a mirror to redirect light from the face of the target up into the vertically mounted microscope. The main tube size permits large horizontal ports for a vacuum load-lock for sample changing, using a magnetically coupled transfer arm, a sample goniometer and a gamma-ray detector. There are also small ports for two X-ray detectors, particle detectors, X-ray absorber filter magazine controls, transmitted light illumination, view ports and electrical feedthroughs [1,2,3].

The microscope used is a Questar SZ-100, a catadioptric reflecting microscope with a 150 mm working distance and a minimum field of view (using a 0.5" CCD camera) of 360 µm. One useful feature of the SZ-100 is the remote control of the microscope focus and step-zoom controls. The SZ-100 also provides coaxial reflected light illumination. Transmitted light illumination is also provided.

The target goniometer provides X travel of 100 mm and Y,Z travel of 50 mm, and options for axial rotation and a second rotation degree of freedom using a coaxial linear drive. All axes (X,Y,Z,theta,phi) use stepper motor drives and computer control. The X and Y axes use micro-stepping to provide resolutions of 0.6 and 0.08 µm, respectively. The rotation axes have a resolution of 0.01°. The Amiga control software maintains a list of points and scan areas for analysis.

[1] C.G. Ryan, D.N. Jamieson, W.L. Griffin, G. Cripps and R. Szymanski, "The New CSIRO-GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe: First Results, Performance and Recent Applications", Nucl. Instr. Meth. B181 (2001) 12-19.

[2] C.G. Ryan, D.N. Jamieson, W.L. Griffin and G. Cripps, "The CSIRO-GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe: A high-performance system based on a new closely integrated design", Nucl. Instr. Meth. B158 (1999) 97-106.

[3] C.G. Ryan, D.N. Jamieson, W.L. Griffin, S.H. Sie, G. Cripps and G.F. Suter, "The new CSIRO-GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe: A new highly integrated design for geoscience applications", proc. 10th Australian Conf. on Nuclear Techniques of Analysis, Canberra, ISSN 1329-8437 (1997) NTA/VSA8.

For further information contact: Dr. Chris Ryan via email: (Chris.Ryan@csiro.au)
Phone +61-3-9905 9087
Fax orders +61-7-3327 4455		 CSIRO Exploration and Mining
Bayview Road, Clayton VIC 3168
Australia
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