Abstract
The limitations on secondary ion microanalytical performance imposed by ionization probabilities, mass spectrometer transmission, requirements for standards and sputtering artifacts have been investigated. The sensitivity of a modern magnetic mass spectrometer for sputtered B** plus from oxidized Si is approximately equals 10** minus **2 ions detected/atom sputtered. For this sensitivity, it is shown that ion microscopy of a part-per-million impurity is limited in lateral resolution to approximately equals 1 mu m. For a 1% impurity, lateral resolution of approximately equals 30 nm is achievable. Depth profile analysis at the ppm level requires sample areas approximately equals 10 mu m**2. Isotope abundance determinations in volumes approximately equals 1 mu m**3 require the concentration of the least-abundant isotope to be greater than equivalent to 1%.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 553-561 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Scanning Electron Microscopy |
Issue number | pt 2 |
State | Published - Dec 1 1985 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Control and Systems Engineering
- Biophysics