Ultrafast laser assisted field evaporation and atom probe tomography applications

Abstract

Considering the recent developments of the pulsed laser in the femtosecond domain, the possibility of conceiving a new laser assisted Tomographic Atom Probe has been nvisaged. The instrument is able to map out the 3D distributions of the atomic positions in a volume about 20×20×200 nm3. By combining a standard atom probe to a femtosecond laser, it is possible to obtain excellent atom probe performances. The mass resolving power of the instrument is increased by a factor 3. The feasibility of a laser assisted Tomographic Atom Probe is thus demonstrated in conductive and non conductive materials. © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd.