Thermal evaporation at LIP/FCUL
The thermal evaporator consists of a hydraulic bell-shaped steel chamber with the possibility of out-gasing, see the Figure on the left. It is equipped with two cathode-anode sources allowing for simultaneous or sequential evaporation of material under high vacuum, see top-right figure on the right-top. The thin films produced range in thickness from a few nm to micrometers, and can be either self-supporting, with a backing or sandwiched films and coatings. In the bottom-right figure silver thin films, which are self supporting can be observed.
Characterisation of the films can be carried out by measuring the energy loss of alpha particles through the film at the FCUL [1] or with RBS analysis at the CTN-IST facility [2].
Applications
Applications for these thin films are many and variable. First of all we are committed in producing high quality, specifically designed targets which are used in nuclear reaction experiments. Detector development and improvements by producing specific coatings. The films can also be used as entrance windows into chambers while causing minimal interference with reaction beams. To be discussed in detail with Dani.
Success and Future
Several targets have been produced from materials such as Ag, Al, CaF, AgCl, Pb and 208Pb, Sn and enriched 116Sn targets.
Collaborations
We have collaborated with nuclear physics groups in Portugal and Spain, and provided targets which were used at low to intermediate range nuclear physics facilities.
References
[1] Peralta, L. et al., 2014. NIMA 737: 163-169.
[2] http://www.ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (accessed 05/11/2022)
Contact
For further information about our facility, or looking into possibilities to cooperate please contact Pamela Teubig at pteubig@lip.pt