SBIR-STTR Award

This Phase I research will determine the feasibility of developing positron-electron annihilation processes into an innovative generation of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) instruments. It is well known that collisions of low energy positrons with solid surfaces produces copious quantities of secondary and Auger electrons after positron annihilation with a core level electron in the solid. The intrinsic signal-to-noise (S/N) of this positron AES (PAES) is several orders of magnitude higher than conventional electron beam AES (EAES) and therein lies the attraction of PAES. We will build an experimental positron source or beam using 22Na as the positron emitter and various ion optical elements to transport this beam to surfaces of samples placed on commercial AES instruments. This feasibility research will thus directly compare PAES and EAES for identical samples in order to better assess the possible sensitivity improvements of PAES. This research will be a collaboration between Charles Evans Associates and Professor David Golden at the University of North Texas. The successful development of PAES will introduce a more sensitive surface analysis technique for chemical analysis of the top atomic layers of high technology materials. This research could also lead to the development of positron sources to convert conventional AES instruments into PAES tools.