Abstract: The source of electrons is a nanotip in a vacuum as used in near field microscopy. The source of ions is a similar nanotip in vacuum supplied with liquid metal (gallium) as in a liquid-metal ion source. Electrons or ions from this nanometre-sized tip are extracted by centralising the tip over an aperture plate and applying a suitable voltage to the tip. The electrons (ions) pass through this plate and are accelerated up to several keV using a nanoscale/microscale accelerating column before being focussed using further microscale (or nanoscale) cylindrical lenses. The final element is an aberration corrected miniature (or sub-miniature) einzel lens which can focus the beam at several millimetres from the end of the instrument.

Abstract: The source of electrons is a nanotip in a vacuum as used in near field microscopy. The source of ions is a similar nanotip in vacuum supplied with liquid metal (gallium) as in a liquid-metal ion source. Electrons or ions from this nanometre-sized tip are extracted by centralising the tip over an aperture plate and applying a suitable voltage to the tip. The electrons (ions) pass through this plate and are accelerated up to several keV using a nanoscale/microscale accelerating column before being focussed using further microscale (or nanoscale) cylindrical lenses. The final element is an aberration corrected miniature (or sub-miniature) einzel lens which can focus the beam at several millimetres from the end of the instrument.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a beam of clustered atoms comprises a nozzle (17) ejecting atomic clusters from a source (10, 11) in a gas stream. The nozzle (17) comprises a passage having an inwardly tapered inlet portion (17a) and an outwardly tapered outlet portion (17c) whereby turbulence in the region of the inlet and outlet of the nozzle is minimised.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an ordered array of nanoparticles on a substrate surface and to a nanomaterial having such an ordered array of nanoparticles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to the provision of an ordered array of magnetic nanocrystals on a substrate surface. Although the present invention is not limited to the production of a magnetic array, one important object of the present invention is the production of a material suitable for use as an ultra high density magnetic data storage medium. According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing a structure comprising a plurality of nanoparticles distributed across a surface of a substrate in a predetermined array, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing a substrate which has a passivated surface; ii) depositing nanoparticles on to said surface; and iii) displacing said particles over said surface to configure them in said predetermined array.

Abstract: A method of producing a structure comprising a plurality of nanoparticles distributed across a surface of a substrate in a predetermined array. The method comprises the steps of: i) providing a substrate which has a passivated surface; ii) depositing nanoparticles on to said surface; and iii) displacing said particles over said surface to configure them in said predetermined array.

Abstract: A method of making a thin film nano-material, the method comprising simultaneously depositing atoms of a ferro-magnetic substance together with clusters of a non-magnetic substance onto a surface, thereby providing a thin film nano-material comprising a matrix of the ferro-magnetic substance formed around the clusters of non-magnetic substance.