Electrochemically recirculating atomic beam source

Abstract

An atomic-beam source device is configured to provide a collimated beam of atoms, wherein solid-state electrochemistry is employed to recirculate atoms that are caught on collimation channel walls. The use of solid-state electrochemistry to recirculate atoms enables a chip-scale, dark-wall, high-quality collimated beam source that does not clog over time. Some variations provide an atomic-beam source device comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode that is electrically isolated from the first electrode; a first ion conductor interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first ion conductor is capable of transporting metal ions, and wherein the first ion conductor is in contact with the first electrode and with the second electrode; and one or more collimation channels disposed outwardly from the first ion conductor. Methods of using the atomic-beam source device are disclosed, including methods to recirculate and reuse metal atoms adsorbed on collimation channel walls.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.