Tuneable Charged Particle Vortex Beam Generator and Method

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This invention describes a device and method for generating charged particle beams—such as electron beams—imparted with controllable orbital angular momentum (OAM) through an electrical arrangement. Unlike previous solutions, this generator can tune the amount (and direction, or chirality) of the OAM by simply varying the current's magnitude and direction within specially arranged conductors. The process is independent of the beam’s energy, predictable, and reproducible, allowing for straightforward and efficient implementation, especially in electron microscopes and other charged particle instrumentation.

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• In advanced electron microscopy (scanning, transmission, or scanning transmission) to analyze magnetic and chiral properties of materials at high resolution.
• For micromanipulation of nanoparticles or biological specimens using focused electron vortex beams.
• Enhancing imaging contrast in low-absorption biological samples, similar to how optical phase plates work in light microscopy.
• Improving measurement of microscope parameters and calibration via well-defined and tunable vortex beams.
• Implementing quantum information experiments with charged particles carrying controlled OAM.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Easily tunable and switchable orbital angular momentum in charged particle beams using simple electrical adjustments.
• Independence from the beam's energy, simplifying integration with various hardware and experimental conditions.
• Predictable, reproducible, and low-effort production compared to more complex or fixed-state devices.
• Low adjustment and manufacturing demands due to simple construction, possible with standard metals or superconductors on standard substrates.
• Can enhance the functionality of electron microscopes and other particle-beam technologies without significant redesign.
• Switchable chirality (handedness) of the vortex beam achieved by reversing current direction, further expanding its versatility.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention refers to a device for generating charged particle beams with tunable orbital angular momentum. The device firstly includes one or more components for providing a charged particle beam. It is further characterized by an electrical arrangement for imparting a tunable orbital angular momentum to the charged particle beam during operation. The orbital angular momentum of the produced charged particle vortex beam is tunable by adjusting the amount of electrical current. The chirality of the produced charged particle vortex beam is switchable by reversing the direction of the electrical current. The generation of the charged particle vortex beam from the present invention does not depend on the energy of the charged particle beams. The generation of the charged particle vortex beams from the present invention is predictable and reproducible.