Experimental Facilities at Institute of Physics

We have the following facilities for carrying out experimental research work.

  1. Ion-Beam Laboratory  (BTR Form),                Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)
  2. X-ray Sources
  3. Microscopy Facilities
  4. Clusters and nano materials Lab
  5. ESCA system
  6. Raman Spectrometer
  7. Photon Multiplicity Detector
  8. Sample Preparation Laboratory
  9. Liquid Nitrogen Plant
  10. Workshop
  11. Computer Facilities
1. Ion-Beam Laboratory
The 3.0 MV Tandem Pelletron Accelerator (9SDH2) was procured from National Eletcrostatic Corporation, USA in year 1991 and installed in 1992.

Availing of beam time for carrying out experiments using the accelerator facilities requires a beam time request (BTR) form to be filled in which is available online (BTR form).

Two types of ion sources are present :

Alphatross is used for producing He negative ions (and any other gaseous ions)
SNICS is used for producing other elements (from solid targets)

Initially we were using a single cathode SNICS and recently a multi-cathode SNICS is has been installed . The old single cathode SNICS is going to be used in our upcoming 75 keV ion implanter.

There are about six beam lines with 3.0 MV accelerator. A schematic setup of accelerator and beam lines gives more details. Out of these six beam lines, a dedicated beam line for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) , Implantation and micro Beam utility. Among the other two beam lines, there is a general purpose beam line and a beam line mainly used for Atomic Physics. The general purpose beam line was the first one to be developed. The various experimental techniques that are available with the above facilities are as follows:

Also, one can modify the materials at MeV Ion Implantation beam line.

2. X-ray Sources
We have an 18.0 kW rotating anode x-ray generator , 0.05 kW tube source and few radioactive sources.
(i) 18.0 kW Rotating Anode X-ray Generator
This machine was procured from Rikagu International, Japan. This has a Mo anode material (17.5 keV x-rays). A monochromator (uses either a Symmetrical-cut Si(111) crystal or Asymmetrically-cut Si(111) depending on the experiment used) is used to generate a mono-energetic x-rays. The monochromator is placed on a large Huber goniometer head which is driven by DC motors. A HUBER four-circle goniometer is available for placing the sample to carry out the experiments. The data acquisition and control is done with a computer which uses few add-on cards for the purposes with an indigeneously developed programmes.

At present the following experimental techniques are available:

(ii) 0.05 kW tube source and other radioactive sources
The low power tube source is used for routine x-ray flourescence analysis.
3. Microscopy Facilities

A 200 kV Ultra High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (JEOL-2010 ) has been recently installed. We also have high resolution Optical microscope (Leica microscope). We are trying to procure Atomic Force Microsopy.

4. Clusters and nanomaterials Lab
5. Photon Multiplicity Detector
The PMD consist of about 56,000 small scintillator detector pads and is being used in the WA98 experiment at CERN. Each of this scintillator detector pads has been tested here at IOP. For more details visit the Heavy Ion Physics Group page.
6. Sample Preparation Laboratory
At present a Vacuum coating unit (using restistive heating and also 3.0 kW e-beam heating) is being used for thin film deposition. We have necessary equipment for controlled electrodeposition. We have placed order for MBE system. Ion implanation is used to modify the materials besides a vacuum furnace for modifictaion.
7. Liquid Nitrogen Plant
8. Workshop
9. Computer Facilities