Apparatuses and methods for merging ion beams

An apparatus, comprising:

• a lens configured to merge two or more hyperthermal ion beams, the lens including first, second and third nested electrode plates connected to one another, the first, second and third nested electrode plates being curved and being arranged with the second nested electrode plate positioned between the first and third nested electrode plates,
• each of the first, second and third nested electrode plates defining a first aperture and a second aperture,
• each first aperture defining a first geometric center, and
• each second aperture defining a second geometric center;
• wherein
• the first geometric centers of the first, second and third nested electrode plates define a first curved passageway extending through the first, second and third nested electrode plates,
• the second geometric centers of the first, second and third nested electrode plates define a second curved passageway extending through the first, second and third nested electrode plates;
• and
• wherein
• the second nested electrode plate is configured to connect to a first DC power source,
• the first and third nested electrode plates are electrically connected to one another and configured to connect to a second DC power source,
• the second nested electrode plate maintains a first DC voltage when connected to a first DC power source, and
• the third nested electrode plate maintains a second DC voltage that is different from the first DC voltage when the third nested electrode plate is connected to a second DC power source that has a different voltage from the first DC power source.