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: 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.