Field ionization detectors: a comparative model

Recently there has been renewed interest in using field ionization as a method of detecting neutral atomic/molecular species. However, the current–voltage characteristic of a field ionization detector is very difficult to calculate from first principles, making comparison, characterization and monit...

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Main Authors: O'Donnell, Kane, Fahy, A., Thomsen, L., O'Connor, D., Dastoor, P.
Format: Journal Article
Published: IOP Publishing Ltd 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24842
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author O'Donnell, Kane
Fahy, A.
Thomsen, L.
O'Connor, D.
Dastoor, P.
author_facet O'Donnell, Kane
Fahy, A.
Thomsen, L.
O'Connor, D.
Dastoor, P.
author_sort O'Donnell, Kane
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Recently there has been renewed interest in using field ionization as a method of detecting neutral atomic/molecular species. However, the current–voltage characteristic of a field ionization detector is very difficult to calculate from first principles, making comparison, characterization and monitoring difficult. Here we present a semi-empirical theory designed for macroscopic characterization and comparison of field ionization devices via the current–voltage curve in a similar fashion to the familiar Fowler–Nordheim analysis for field emission devices. The resulting model allows us to monitor the changes in a single field ionization detector, or, more importantly, to make quantitative comparisons between detectors. We demonstrate that this new model accurately reproduces the characteristic field ionization current versus voltage profiles in both low and high field regimes.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-248422017-09-13T15:11:17Z Field ionization detectors: a comparative model O'Donnell, Kane Fahy, A. Thomsen, L. O'Connor, D. Dastoor, P. magnetic and optical Instrumentation and measurement Condensed matter: electrical Recently there has been renewed interest in using field ionization as a method of detecting neutral atomic/molecular species. However, the current–voltage characteristic of a field ionization detector is very difficult to calculate from first principles, making comparison, characterization and monitoring difficult. Here we present a semi-empirical theory designed for macroscopic characterization and comparison of field ionization devices via the current–voltage curve in a similar fashion to the familiar Fowler–Nordheim analysis for field emission devices. The resulting model allows us to monitor the changes in a single field ionization detector, or, more importantly, to make quantitative comparisons between detectors. We demonstrate that this new model accurately reproduces the characteristic field ionization current versus voltage profiles in both low and high field regimes. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24842 10.1088/0957-0233/22/1/015901 IOP Publishing Ltd restricted
spellingShingle magnetic and optical Instrumentation and measurement
Condensed matter: electrical
O'Donnell, Kane
Fahy, A.
Thomsen, L.
O'Connor, D.
Dastoor, P.
Field ionization detectors: a comparative model
title Field ionization detectors: a comparative model
title_full Field ionization detectors: a comparative model
title_fullStr Field ionization detectors: a comparative model
title_full_unstemmed Field ionization detectors: a comparative model
title_short Field ionization detectors: a comparative model
title_sort field ionization detectors: a comparative model
topic magnetic and optical Instrumentation and measurement
Condensed matter: electrical
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24842