Time-of-flight SIMS instrument upgrades
Remove reliance on outdated computer equipment e.g. PDP11 or HP 900 series
Change old unsupported racks of electronics for a single, up-to-date enhanced performance unit.
Take advantage of inexpensive, easy to use, modern software by working under a widely used operating system (Windows 95/98/XP) with standard format files (e.g. images in *.bmp format)
Have full access to data in open format files.
Take advantage of the many integrated features available with mainstream third party packages, e.g. easy transfer of data to reports, database facilities, object linking/embedding and much more.
Already in use on VG Poschenrieder and Kratos Prism instruments
Background information
Details of the solution
Block diagram
The user interface
Example SIMS maps
Below is a composite SIMS image (several fields of view assembled into a larger image) of loose fibres trapped under a hexagonal stainless steel mesh. The data was acquired with the SIMS imaging module on a Kratos TOF SIMS, with the Kore upgrade, by the Laboratory for Surface and Interface Analysis, Department of Engineering Materials group at Sheffield University. They have written their own pallette generator program, which they have been kind enough to make available to other Kore users. In the image below, maps for aluminium (yellow), chromium (blue) and Carbon (pink) have been overlayed. This image demonstrates nicely how the choice of colour scheme can make the data come alive to the eye
A brief specification
Software selectable time resolution 2, 4, 8, or 16 nsec.
Counting rates to 500MHz.
Virtually unlimited hits per cycle.
Spectrum collection 32k bins with 32 bit dynamic range.
Dead time between cycles less than 0.5 µsec.
Data collection software selectable for time or mass.
Chemical maps 512 x 512 pixels down to 32 x 32 pixels in powers of 2.
Up to 16 chemical maps may be collected simultaneously.
(separate data sheets or brochures are available on request for the TDC unit and GRAMS/AI)
Prices | |
| TDC/histogramming unit with low level drivers and PC interface card (ISA bus) | £5,000 |
| GRAMS/AI with Kore SIMS spectral acquisition extensions | £1,550 |
| Chemical map acquisition application with GRAMS/AI user interface extension and analogue output card (ISA bus) | £4,000 |
| Industrial PC configured by Kore | £1,600 |
| Cable adapter VG Poschenrieder electronics to Kore TDC | £50 |
| Cable adapter Kratos Prism detector pre-amp to Kore TDC | £50 |
| One day installation visit (optional) | £700 (plus expenses) |
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Last updated: 10 September 2005 17:38
© Kore Technology Limited 2005