Capture pumping technologies create high vacuum (HV) and ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environments for a variety of applications, ranging from portable mass spectrometers to large scale particle accelerators. They can create the lowest possible vacuum at an economical cost.
Also known as sputter ion pumps or ion getter pumps, are capture pumps that ionize gases using an anode/cathode array. Ions sputter reactive cathode materials, creating a chemical reaction that turns the ionized gases into solid compounds. Those compounds no longer contribute to the pressure of the vacuum system and are permanently captured within the ion pump. Ion pumps can operate from 10<sup>-5</sup> to 10<sup>-12</sup> mbar and range in size from 0.2 to 1,200 l/s of nitrogen.
Operate by heating a titanium filament and subliming (converting from solid to gas phase) titanium molecules onto a surface. Sublimed titanium molecules are then available to chemically react with reactive gases, like oxygen and nitrogen, and disassociate and diffuse hydrogen. TSP’s can operate from 10<sup>-5</sup> to 10<sup>-12</sup> mbar and have pumping speeds in excess of 10,000 l/s of hydrogen.
Are reactive metals that have been pressed onto solid substrates or sintered into discs. A specific combination of Zirconium, Vanadium and Iron has been found to work best for HV and UHV environments. The amount of material used controls the speed and capacity of the NEG pump, but typically range from 55 to 412 l/s and capacity from 630 to 3600 Torr l/s. As NEG’s become saturated with gases, they can be reactivated without venting to atmosphere.
A modern NEG controller in a compact design, optimized in both performance and cost with increased functionality that helps to reach ultra-high vacuum more conveniently for your application.
DIGITEL SPC-NEG controllers operate NEG pumps with a high pumping speed for hydrogen, which is the most relevant gas type in ultra-high vacuum. Unlike standard power supplies, the SPC-NEG can not only push a current into the NEG’s heater, but uses pre-defined routines, with certain parameters, such as current values or heating duration. Those values are chosen by the SPC-NEG depending on the connected NEG pump. The routines are customizable to allow for experiments with different parameters. Reliable operation is accomplished by open-loop detection as well as overload protection.
A high ease of use is established by a large touch screen. In addition, the ethernet interface allows for remote control.