Graduate Exam Abstract
Tyler Green
M.S. Final
May 10, 2017, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
ERC A210
Extreme Ultraviolet Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for the Characterization of Actinides
Abstract: Many scientific disciplines, as well as several technologies, have a great demand for analytical tools that are both highly sensitive and have sub-micron spatial resolution. Laser ablation mass spectrometry meets both of these requirements and as such is broadly used for chemical analyses and chemical mapping of atomic and molecular species on solid samples.
This thesis describes results on the characterization of Extreme Ultraviolet Time-of-Flight Laser Ablation Mass Spectrometry (EUV TOF) for trace analysis of actinides and for high lateral resolution imaging of inorganic samples. We demonstrate that this technique, with a nominal sensitivity around 50 ppm and a lateral resolution of 80 nm, is already competitive with other well-established mass spectrometry techniques that focus on analytical isotopic imaging. The thesis also details the diagnosis and determination of causes of electrical noise that prevent the collection of mass peaks composed of a single ion. These results enable EUV TOF to properly orient itself in the field of mass spectrometry and allow multiple disciplines to conduct high resolution compositional mapping quickly and with minimal mass peak interferences.
Adviser: Carmen Menoni
Co-Adviser: N/A
Non-ECE Member: Dean Crick, Microbiology
Member 3: Mario Marconi, Electrical Engineering
Addional Members: N/A
Publications:
N/A
Program of Study:
ECE 561
ECE 404
ECE 441
ECE 506
ECE 546
ECE 574
ECE 673
PH 452
