Time-of-flight SIMS instrument upgrades
- Remove reliance on outdated computer equipment e.g. PDP11 or HP 900 series, or old Windows systems.
- Change old unsupported racks of electronics for, up-to-date supported hardware..
- Take advantage of inexpensive, easy to use, modern software by working under a widely used operating system (Windows XP/Vista/7) with standard format files (e.g. images in portable grey map format) which are easy export to 3rd party processing software.
- Have full access to data in open format files.
- Take advantage of the many integrated features available with mainstream third party packages, many of them free, e.g. easy transfer of data to reports, database facilities, image processing (ImageJ) etc.
- Improved timing performance with fast (0.25ns) TDC.
- Easier LMIG set-up using PC screen based SEM image, instead of persistant phosphor monitor.
- 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 0.25ns 0.5ns, 1ns etc.
- Counting rates to 2GHz.
- Virtually unlimited hits per cycle (see full TDC specification).
- 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 displayed during collection.
- Unlimited choice of mass window for maps created in post processing of list-mode data.
- 512 x 512 pixel SEM image display, continuous monitoring or save to file.
(separate data is available for the TDC unit and GRAMS/AI)
Prices | |
| TDC in bench-top mains-powered case, with mains lead, USB cable, software drivers and data collection utilities. | £7,500 |
| GRAMS/AI with Kore SIMS spectral acquisition extensions | £1,850 |
| SIMS Chemical map acquisition application with GRAMS/AI user interface extension, SEM image display/capture program, analogue output/input card (PCI bus) and cable | £1,650 |
| Windows PC configured by Kore with all software installed | £1,150 |
| 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) | £750 (plus expenses) |
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Last updated: 03 February 2010, 09:55
© Kore Technology Limited 2005