C-shaped electron beams: design, experimental production and application

Mousley, Michael; Thirunavukkarasu, G.; Babiker, M.; Yuan, Jun

doi:10.1117/12.2187859

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…On the other hand, the circular symmetry will be broken in a mixed state vortex beam, resulting in an asymmetrical cross-sectional beam intensity. This can be achieved by di↵erent methods, ranging from simply cutting a pure vortex beam by a knife-edge-like mask to create an asymmetrical cross-sectional distribution , to the careful preparation of a superposition of pure vortex beams (Greenshields et al, 2012) or a vortex-endowed C-shaped beam (Mousley et al, 2015). The rotation of the transverse image of the electron vortex beam can be measured as a function of the propagation distance or as a function of the magnetic field strength.…”

Section: Image Rotationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electron vortices: Beams with orbital angular momentum

et al. 2017

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The recent prediction and subsequent creation of electron vortex beams in a number of laboratories occurred after almost 20 years had elapsed since the recognition of the physical significance and potential for applications of the orbital angular momentum carried by optical vortex beams. A rapid growth in interest in electron vortex beams followed, with swift theoretical and experimental developments. Much of the rapid progress can be attributed in part to the clear similarities between electron optics and photonics arising from the functional equivalence between the Helmholtz equations governing the free space propagation of optical beams and the time-independent Schrödinger equation governing freely propagating electron vortex beams. There are, however, key di↵erences in the properties of the two kinds of vortex beams. This review is concerned primarily with the electron type, with specific emphasis on the distinguishing vortex features: notably the spin, electric charge, current and magnetic moment, the spatial distribution as well as the associated electric and magnetic fields. The physical consequences and potential applications of such properties are pointed out and analysed, including nanoparticle manipulation and the mechanisms of orbital angular momentum transfer in the electron vortex interaction with matter.

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Section: Image Rotationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electron vortices: Beams with orbital angular momentum

et al. 2017

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“…The advantage of using beams with a predefined electron intensity structure is that no scanning is required; as such all the electrons interact only with the 'virgin' resist at the same time and the patterning is not affected by any previous exposures of the inorganic resist. In the preliminary test, we demonstrated beam-induced etching of C-shaped holes with an overall dimension as small as 10 nm also in AlF 3 resist (see figureS3 of the supplementary information and [34]).…”

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confidence: 96%

“…By controlling both parameters, namely l and c, for a given r , max one can alter independently both the size (D) and the opening angle ( a 2 ), of the C-shape. D is defined as the intersection of the peak intensity of the C-shape arc with the negative x-axis in reciprocal space and α is the angle between the reciprocal space x-axis and the line linking the reciprocal space origin to the ends of the C [34].…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Such a C-shaped electron vortex beam can be directly used in coherent electron beam lithography, for example, producing nanostructures by exposing direct writing electron beam resists to such beams [34]. When inorganic resists used in direct writing lithography, such as AlF 3 , are exposed to a focused electron beam, aluminium metal particles are produced in the area surrounding the interaction volume [44], making the surrounding area much less sensitive to further electron beam illumination.…”

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Robust and adjustable C-shaped electron vortex beams

et al. 2017

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Wavefront engineering is an important quantum technology. Here, we demonstrate the design and production of a robust C-shaped and orbital angular momentum (OAM) carrying beam in which the doughnut shaped structure contains an adjustable gap. We find that the presence of the vortex line in the core of the beam is crucial for the robustness of the C-shape against beam propagation. The topological charge of the vortex core controls mainly the size of the C, while its opening angle is controlled by the presence of vortex-anti-vortex loops. We demonstrate the generation and characterisation of C-shaped electron vortex beams, although the result is equally applicable to other quantum waves. Applications of C-shaped vortex beams include lithography, dynamical atom sorting and atomtronics.

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C-shaped electron beams: design, experimental production and application

Cited by 2 publications

References 24 publications

Electron vortices: Beams with orbital angular momentum

Electron vortices: Beams with orbital angular momentum

Robust and adjustable C-shaped electron vortex beams

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