Technical field
[0001] The invention relates to a field of physical measuring instruments and nuclear device
engineering and in particular to devices for detection of relativistic charged particles,
determination of the spatial position of the source of electrical particles (particle
angular distribution) and measurements of the energy spectrum of particles.
Background art
[0002] Charged particle analyzers are devices used in analytical tools, including most mass
spectrometers and electron spectrometers. These devices are instruments that employ
electric fields or magnetic fields or both to segregate electrically charged particles
in a space in accordance with their kinetic energies or masses (ordinarily, the mass
to charge ratio), thereby allowing for selective analysis and detection. Nuclear science
was the most prominent field in which mass spectrometry was employed.
[0003] Static magnetic fields historically were the first ones used for energy and mass
analysis of charged particles. Despite later appearance of other methods for such
analysis magnetic fields are still widely used, for example, for isotopic mass analysis
as well as for analysis of energetic charged particles (
Mikhail Yavor, "Static Magnetic Charged Particle Analyzers", Advances in Imaging and
Electron Physics, Elsevier, Vol. 157,2009, Pages 69-211). Even though magnetic analyzers are bulky and heavy compared to electrostatic analyzers
they are usually used for measuring kinetic energy distributions in high-energy beams
in space instruments, in which case achieving the necessary electrostatic field strengths
is technically difficult.
[0004] Scientific paper by
F. R. Paolini et. al. "Satellite Instrumentation for Charged Particle Measurements
II. Magnetic Analyzer for 0.1 to 1.0 MeV Electrons", IEEE Trans. On Nuclear Science,
vol. 15, Issue 1, Feb. 1968, pp. 194-213 discloses a 180°- focusing satellite magnetic analyzer (on satellites
OV1-9, OV1-13) for the spectroscopy and angular distribution measurements of electrons and is considered
to be the closest prior art. The magnetic analyzer comprises: a protective shielding
cover with an entrance aperture - an opening through which electrons enter the analyzer;
rectangular (1:2) parallelepiped-shaped permanent deflection magnets, provided by
a return path (yoke enclosing the pieces of magnet poles) for the magnetic field lines
around the shielded volume, thanks to which a uniform magnetic field is created in
the void rectangular parallelepiped domain inside the gap between the poles of the
magnets perpendicularly to the trajectory of the electron motion; a plane protective
screen with eight exit apertures appropriately positioned in the 180° focal plane
of the analyzer; a grid of detectors located at the output of each exit aperture outside
the permanent magnetic field domain; the magnetic field strength and temperature meters;
a calibration particle source and a unit of the analyzer electronics, consisting of
separate output channel amplifiers; pulse counters; discriminators etc., for processing
the measurement data and preventing the unwanted background counting rate due to extraneous
relativistic particles (protons).
[0005] In the closest prior art above, of all the electrons which enter the entrance aperture,
essentially only electrons of desired energy ranges reach exit apertures appropriately
positioned in the focal plane of the analyzer. The variation in energy Δ
E of the electrons falling into the respective energy range depends on angles
α and
β of the electrons entering the aperture (respectively, in the plane perpendicular
to the
B field, and in the plane perpendicular to both the latter described plane and the
aperture plane), the distance
δ from its center, and the channel number
N, defined by the radius
ρ of the curvature of the circular trajectory of the electron

where
E is the kinetic energy of the charged particle;
B is the induction of the magnetic field;
q is the particle electric charge;
m is the particle rest mass;
c is the velocity of light in vacuum. The energy variation is defined by the width
of the energy bin Δ
E (evaluated as a full width at half maximum, FWHM), which is given, according to the
common statistical evaluations of measurement precision, by the square root of the
sum of the squares of all said individual terms when neglecting their possible correlation.
The energy variation Δ
E and the deviation of the radius of curvature of the trajectory Δ
ρ in the focal plane are related by

[0006] The width of the energy range of each channel corresponds to the chosen theoretical
energy resolution (equal to, for instance, 15% of the FWHM) for electrons entering
exactly the center of the entrance aperture perpendicularly to the magnetic field
B force lines and the aperture plane (along the aperture axis,
α =
β =
δ = 0). The sensitivity of the channel is closely related to Δ
ρ, it is the higher for the larger Δ
ρ. The energy range of the analyzer depends on the area of the magnetic poles and the
magnetic field strength, as well as on the value of Δ
ρ. The channel energy values are spaced at equal logarithmic intervals over the range
0.1 to 1.0 MeV.
[0007] Accordingly, one drawback of the closest prior art above is insufficient channel
sensitivity (proportional to the value of Δ
ρ) in a low-energy region. Another drawback of the prior art is that range of energies
measured by the analyzer cannot be increased without to increasing the area of the
magnet pole tips. Any increase in the dimensions of the magnet poles (at a fixed magnetic
field strength) greatly increases the dimensions of the analyzer and, at the same
time, its mass, which is completely useless in the case of a satellite instrumentation.
Yet another drawback of the prior art relates to the determination of the spatial
position (pitch angle analysis) of the source of electrical particles. Determination
of the source position (angles of impinging) of relativistic particles is highly dependent
on the value of the channel energy (angles
β are much larger for the low energy channels where
ρ is small due to
β =
d/ (2
πρ), with d being the distance between the tips of the magnet poles and coinciding with
one of the dimensions of the detector, while other dimension of the detector area
is defined by Δ
ρ). In order to determine the spatial position of the particle source more accurately
(by reducing
β), the distance
d between the tips of the magnet poles must be reduced, which, however, decreases the
sensitivity of the analyzer provided that Δ
ρ remains the same.
[0008] The present invention is dedicated to overcoming of the above shortcomings and for
producing further advantages over prior art. Compared to the prior art, the invention
has smaller dimensions and mass, wider range of measured energies, higher density
of channels leading to enlarged measurement sensitivity and the better selectivity
in particle angular distribution.
Brief description of the invention
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, a device has a uniform magnetic deflecting
field concentrated in a void domain between poles of right circular cylindrical magnets
of equal diameter with poles at ends of cylinders oriented along a general symmetry
axis, in which particle entrance and exit apertures are arranged in a cylindrical
shell - right circular hollow cylinder of suitable thickness, placed at the end parts
of the poles. The axes of the apertures are directed towards the axis of the cylindrical
shell and the cylinder frontal surface of the shell is aligned with the magnetic field
B fringe and serves as a focal plane.
[0010] In the second embodiment of the device, differently than in the first embodiment,
half of the diametrically divided circular cylindrical magnets are used to create
a permanent magnetic field
B in a void domain between the poles of the semi-cylinder magnets. A horseshoe-shaped
return path yoke enclosing the magnet pole pieces with a width equal to the cylinder
diameter is used. Arched side surfaces of the semi-cylinders are oriented towards
the horseshoe legs and the particle entrance and exit apertures are located on the
side of arched surface of the semi-cylinder magnets.
[0011] In the third embodiment of the device, differently than in the first embodiment,
the axis of the entrance aperture of the analyzer is oriented in the direction of
the string of the internal cylinder of the cylindrical shell, rotated from the cylinder
diameter, traced through the entrance aperture center, to the side, whereof the particle
trajectory deviates towards the cylinder center.
[0012] In the fourth embodiment of the device, differently than in the first embodiment,
the focus of the analyzer is in the path of the particle trajectory on a plane adjacent
to the cylindrical magnetic field domain and oriented in parallel to the axes of the
domain and the entrance aperture, arranging the 90° focusing magnetic analyzer.
Brief description of the drawings
[0013] Features of the invention believed to be novel and inventive are set forth with particularity
in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may be best understood by reference
to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes exemplary
embodiments, given in non-restrictive examples, of the invention, taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows two cross sectional views of first embodiment of the magnetic analyzer
in mutually perpendicular planes: a) top view; b) side view.
Fig. 2 shows two cross sectional views of second embodiment of the magnetic analyzer
in mutually perpendicular planes a) top view; b) side view.
Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional side view of third embodiment of the magnetic analyzer
in mutually perpendicular planes a) top view; b) side view.
Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional side view of fourth embodiment of the magnetic analyzer
in mutually perpendicular planes a) top view; b) side view.
Fig. 5 shows magnetic field and focal planes geometry of first to fourth embodiments.
Fig. 6 shows energy channels arrangement in the focal plane of the magnetic analyzer
of the prior art and four embodiments of the device design.
[0014] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described herein below with reference
to the drawings.
Detailed description of the invention
[0015] It should be understood that numerous specific details are presented in order to
provide a complete and comprehensible description of the invention embodiment. However,
the person skilled in art will understand that the embodiment examples do not limit
the application of the invention which can be implemented without these specific instructions.
Well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail for
the embodiment to avoid misleading. Furthermore, this description should not be considered
to be constraining the invention to given embodiment examples but only as one of possible
implementations of the invention.
[0016] The first to fourth embodiments of the magnetic analyzer of the present invention
are shown in the figures Fig. 1 - Fig. 4 and comprises: a protective shielding cover
(1); an entrance aperture (2); optionally a particle collimator (2.1); deflection
permanent magnets (3) having
N and
S poles; a domain (3.1) of a uniform magnetic field; a yoke (4) enclosing the permanent
magnets (3); a protective detector holder (5) of non-magnetic material where the frontal
surface of the protective detector holder (5) is a focal plane (5.1); exit apertures
(6.1 ÷ 6.
N); a grid of detectors (7.1 ÷ 7.
N); a magnetic field strength sensor (8); a temperature sensor (9).
[0017] Illustrations of the magnetic field and focal planes geometry, and operation principles
are given in Fig. 5, where:
(x, y,
z) and (
x', y', z') are Cartesian coordinate systems;
R - magnet cylinder radius; (0,
R) are coordinates of the magnetic cylinder center;
B - induction of a permanent magnetic field;
v- charged particle velocity directed along the
y axis;
q - electric charge of the charged particle;
x0, x
1,
y0, y
1, y
2,
D - distances from the beginning (0,0) of the Cartesian coordinate system, which coincides
with the center of the entrance aperture (2) shown in the Fig.1 - Fig. 4;
Lρ - length of the charged particle trajectory (2.2), in the magnetic field;
LR - focal distance from the beginning of Cartesian coordinate system on the cylindrical
focal surface, a circular focal plane (5.1, circular FP);
ρ - radius of curvature of the charged particle trajectory (2.2);
α - angle of incidence of the charged particles with respect to the
y coordinate;
ϕ - angular length of the circular trajectory (
Lρ) of the charged particle;
θ,
θ' - angular focal distances on the cylindrical surface (5.1, circular FP);
A, A', A" - the points of intersection of the charged particle trajectory (
Lρ) and the focal plane (5.1, circular FP), or (5.1, 90° FP), respectively.
[0018] Comparison of energy channels arrangement in the focal plane of the prior art and
all embodiments of the invention are given in Fig. 6, where: PrA - energy channels
arrangement (distance 2
ρ) in the focal plane (180° FP) of the magnetic analyzer of the prior art; I, II -
energy channels arrangement (distance
LR) in the focal plane (circular FP) of the magnetic analyzer of the first and the second
embodiment; III - energy channels arrangement (distance
LR) in the focal plane (circular FP) of the magnetic analyzer of the third embodiment;
IV - energy channels arrangement (distance
y") in the focal plane (90° FP) of the magnetic analyzer of the fourth embodiment.
[0019] According to the first embodiment of the invention and Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, the magnetic
analyzer for relativistic charged particles comprises: a protective shielding cover
(1) with an entrance aperture (2); a collimator (2.1) of relativistic particles installed
in front of the entrance aperture (2) which is optional; internally to the protective
shielding cover (1) mounted permanent cylindrical magnets (3) with poles
N, S enclosed by a magnetic pole yoke (4), by which a uniform magnetic field
B is created in the void cylindrical domain (3.1) inside the gap between the poles
(
N,
S) of the magnets (3); a protective detector holder (5) of non-magnetic material in
a shape of cylindrical hollow shell with entrance (2) and exit apertures (6.1÷6.
N) for relativistic charged particles, placed coaxially with the cylindrical magnets
(3) at the end parts of the poles (
N,
S) where the inner surface of the cylindrical shell is a frontal surface being aligned
with the magnetic field domain (3.1) fringe serves as the focal plane (
FP) of the device, where the axes of the apertures (2, 6.1÷6.
N) are directed towards the general axis of the cylinders; a grid of detectors (7.1÷7.
N) located at the output of each exit aperture (6.1÷6.
N) outside the magnetic field domain (3.1) of permanent magnets (3); a magnetic field
strength sensor (8); a temperature sensor (9); a calibration particle source (not
shown) and an analyzer electronics unit (not shown), consisting of separate channel
amplifiers, pulse counters, discriminators etc., for processing of the measurement
data and preventing the unwanted background counting rate due to extraneous relativistic
particles. The dotted arrow line (2.2) denotes a trajectory of a charged particle.
[0020] According to the second embodiment of the invention and Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b, the
magnetic analyzer for relativistic charged particles is made analogously to the construction
of the first embodiment and as depicted in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, except that the permanent
magnets (3) are semi-cylindrical, twice as light and are arranged with a horseshoe-shaped
return path yoke (4) enclosing the semi-cylinder magnet pole pieces (3) of the width
equal to the semi-cylinder diameter. Arched side surfaces of the semi-cylinder magnets
(3) are oriented towards the horseshoe legs (4.1), and the charged particle entrance
aperture (2) and exit apertures (6.1÷6.
N) are located on the side of arched surface of the semi-cylinder magnets (3).
[0021] According to the third embodiment of the invention and Fig. 3 the magnetic analyzer
for relativistic charged particles is made analogously to the construction of the
first embodiment and as depicted in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, except that the axis of the
entrance aperture (2) of the analyzer is oriented in the direction of the protective
detector holder (5) of non-magnetic material in a shape of the cylindrical shell string
at an acute angle to the internal cylinder diameter traced through the entrance aperture
(2) center, and the axis of the entrance aperture (2) is directed into that side from
the diameter whereof the trajectory (2.2) of the particle deviates towards the center
of the protective detector holder (5) of non-magnetic material in a shape of the cylindrical
shell.
[0022] According to the forth embodiment of the invention and Fig. 4, the magnetic analyzer
for relativistic charged particles is made analogously to the construction of the
first embodiment and as depicted in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, except that the protective
detector holder (5) of non-magnetic material is in a shape of a straight shielding
bar with its frontal surface being arranged on a 90° focusing plane (5.1) outside
the permanent magnetic field domain (3.1), oriented in parallel with the axes of the
magnetic cylinder domain (3.1) and the entrance aperture (2), where the bar has built-in
exit apertures (6.1÷6.
N) along the trajectory (2.2) of the particle.
[0023] The magnetic analyzer for relativistic charged particles of the first embodiment
operates as follows:
A relativistic particle with charge
q, mass
m and moment
p (or kinetic energy
E) passing through the particle collimator (2.1) enters the inside of the analyzer
through the entrance aperture (2), where a circular homogeneous permanent magnetic
field domain (3.1) of induction
B oriented perpendicularly to the particle velocity
v is formed (Fig. 5). The trajectory (2.2) of the charged particle in the magnetic
field is a circular arc which radius of curvature
ρ is related to the kinetic energy
E of the particle according to formula [1]. The arc length
Lρ, along which the particle travels in the magnetic field within the cylindrical domain
(3.1) between the poles (N, S) of the magnets (3) of radius
R, after it enters the analyzer exactly through the aperture (2) center and perpendicularly
to the aperture plane (
α =
β =
δ = 0), is calculated by the formula

[0024] After passing through the magnetic field
B, the particle enters one of the analyzer channels (1÷
N) through the exit aperture (6.1÷6.
N), where the average kinetic energy value of the recorded particle (at certain fixed
values of
q, B and
R) is determined by the angle
θ (Fig. 5):

[0025] The energy variation of the particles in the respective energy bin Δ
E depends on the impinging angles
α and
β relative to the entrance aperture (2) plane (respectively, in the plane perpendicular
to the magnetic field
B lines and in the plane perpendicular to said plane and in parallel with the aperture
(2) axis. It also varies with the distance
δ from the aperture (2) center, and the channel number
N, characterized by the kinetic energy
E of the particle (or the radius
ρ of curvature of the trajectory (2.2)). The energy variation Δ
E and the distance deviation Δ
LR =
R·Δ
θ (where Δ
θ is the angular deviation) on the focal surface are related

in which, respectively:

[0026] The discrete energy values (
E1 ÷
EN) ascribed to the analyzer channels (1÷
N) are arranged according to the desired distribution (usually spaced at equal logarithmic
intervals) and the angular positions (
θ1 ÷
θN) of the respective channels (1÷
N) in the focal plane (5.1) are evaluated using the formula [4]. The middle of the
energy range,
EN/2, is chosen from the condition
ρ(
EN/2)
= R using formula [1]). The Δ
Ei, values, related to the respective values of
α,
β and
δ, are calculated, according to the common statistical evaluation of measurement precision,
as the square root of the sum of the squares of the individual terms with a set of
all the mentioned deviations [5a ÷ 5c].
[0027] The angle
β depends on the distance d between the poles (
N,
S) of the magnets (3), and it is chosen to be small enough in order to minimize the
effects risen from the magnetic field distortion at the edges of the magnetic field
domain (3.1) but it is compatible with the dimensions of the detector used, and it
is defined for each channel as follows:

[0028] The width of the rectangular entrance aperture (2) is also taken to be of the same
size as the distance d between the poles (
N,
S) of the magnets (3), and the length 2·δ, together with the value of the angle
α, is chosen so that Δ
E/
E (Eq. 5) is, e.g., 15%. The aperture (2) can also be of circular shape with radius
δ.
[0029] The magnetic analyzer is then calibrated using the reference particle sources:
- a) energy calibration, i.e. the average energy value Ei ascribed to each channel (1÷N) and the width of energy variation ΔEi are determined;
- b) the detection efficiency ηi of each channel (1÷N) is measured, including the signal-to-noise ratio of the amplifiers, as well as the
gain and discriminator thresholds;
- c) channel (1÷N) pulse counters are calibrated;
- d) the input aperture (2) parameters are measured: the aperture areas Ai, angular dependence (AΩ)i of an aperture, and the spatial viewing angles Ωi.
[0030] During calibration, the ambient temperature is controlled, and the magnetic field
induction
B values are corrected (
ρ is assumed to be linearly dependent on
B). For the higher accuracy, calibrations are performed under rough vacuum conditions.
[0031] The final channel pulse counter coefficient is calculated using the relationship:

where
j0(
Ei) is the number of particles about
Ei (cm
2·ster·eV)
-1 and
ηi is the detection efficiency.
[0032] The magnetic analyzer for relativistic charged particles of the second embodiment
operates in the same way as the magnetic analyzer of the first embodiment.
[0033] The magnetic analyzer for relativistic charged particles of the third embodiment
functions similarly to the first embodiment, except that the discrete angular positions
θ' of the apertures (6.1÷6.
N) of the output channels (1÷
N) in the focal plane (5.1) of the analyzer (Fig. 5) are calculated using the formula

[0034] Here
α denotes the angle between the axis of the entrance aperture (2) and the diameter
of the cylindrical magnetic domain (3.1) traced through the center of the entrance
aperture (2). The magnetic analyzer for relativistic charged particles of the fourth
embodiment (Fig. 4) works similarly to the first embodiment, only the discrete positions
of the channel exit apertures in the focal plane (5.1) are calculated according to
the formula

[0035] Here,
D denotes the distance of the focal plane (90° FP) from the center of the entrance
aperture (0,0) (Fig. 5).
[0036] Fig. 6 shows a comparison of the prior art and the proposed embodiments of the magnetic
analyzer, showing the arrangement of the exit apertures (6.1÷6.
N) on the focal plane (5.1) of the analyzer. The parameters used in the calculations
have been chosen as follows:
d = 1[cm]; B = 0.1 [T];
q =
-e[C];
S = π
R2= 50 [cm
2];
D - R = 0.3 [cm];
α = 0 for the first, second and forth embodiment and
α = 45° for the third embodiment of the invention. All other parameters, employed for
comparison of the prior art and the proposed embodiments, except magnets and focal
surfaces, coincided. The range of measured energies reached for all the proposed embodiment
versions is larger than that of the prior art. The channel (1÷
N) sensors (7.1÷7.
N) located on the focal plane (5.1) are distributed essentially uniformly and has small
dependency on the energy of the channel number (1÷
N). In the case of the second and third embodiments, the surface areas of the magnetic
poles (
N,
S) (an area ascribed to the magnetic field flux) are twice smaller dimensions (and,
thereby, the twice less mass of the magnets as well). In the case of the fourth embodiment,
the apertures (6.1÷6.
N) are arranged at relatively large distances which makes it possible either to reach
the significantly higher sensitivity, as it is proportional to the detector area,
or to increase the spectral resolution of the analyzer under the same other conditions.
In the case of the first, second and third embodiments, the particle trajectories
(2.2), ascribed to different channels (1÷
N), are essentially short and uniform over their length, decreasing the spatial viewing
angles dependency on the channel energy. Due to the higher sensitivity of the analyzer
(longer distances between channel exit apertures (6.1÷6.
N), an additional particle collimator (2.1) can be installed, which can increase the
resolution of the spatial position of the particle source.
[0037] Although numerous characteristics and advantages together with structural details
and features have been listed in the present description of the invention, the description
is provided as an example fulfilment of the invention. Without departing from the
principles of the invention, there may be changes in the details, especially in the
form, size and layout, in accordance with most widely understood meanings of the concepts
and definitions used in claims.