ion pump

Thân thiện

A scientist operates an ion pump in the laboratory.

Definition

Noun A type of vacuum pump that operates by removing gas molecules from a sealed volume. It does this by ionizing the gas atoms or molecules (giving them an electrical charge) and then using an electric or magnetic field to drive them onto a solid metal surface, where they become trapped or "adsorbed."

Usage

An ion pump is used to create and maintain a very high vacuum (an extremely low-pressure environment). It is commonly found in scientific and industrial equipment where a clean, ultra-high vacuum is required. * The mass spectrometer requires an ion pump to maintain the necessary vacuum for accurate analysis. * After the roughing pump lowers the pressure, the ion pump is activated to achieve an ultra-high vacuum inside the chamber.

Advanced Usage

• Sputter-ion pump: A common subtype of ion pump where the ionized gas particles bombard a cathode (negative electrode), causing metal atoms to be "sputtered" off. These fresh metal atoms then coat the internal surfaces, forming a chemically active film that further traps gas molecules.
• Ion pumps are valued for their clean operation (no oil vapor), quietness, and ability to achieve extremely low pressures, often in the range of 10^{-11} torr or lower.

Variants and Related Words

• Getter pump: A broader category of vacuum pumps that work by chemically binding gas molecules to a reactive surface. An ion pump is a specific, electrically-driven type of getter pump.
• Vacuum pump: The general term for any device that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume to create a vacuum.

Synonyms

• Sputter-ion pump
• Getter-ion pump

Related Phrases/Concepts

• High vacuum / Ultra-high vacuum (UHV): The level of vacuum typically produced and maintained by an ion pump.
• Ionization: The fundamental process of creating charged particles (ions) from neutral gas atoms within the pump.
• Adsorption: The process by which gas molecules stick to the surface of the metal, which is the primary trapping mechanism (distinct from , where a substance is taken into the bulk of a material).

Học thuật

Noun

1. a vacuum pump that removes gas by ionizing the atoms or molecules and adsorbing them on a metal surface