Quantification of Atom Probe Tomography Data
Abstract
Atom probe tomography promises atom by atom three dimensional reconstruction with spatial resolution and chemical sensitivity that no other technique can achieve, offering a unique opportunity for probing materials structures and designing new functional materials. The technique involves the field evaporation of ions from a needle like specimen. The ions are identified by time of flight mass spectroscopy and their impact onto a detector provides a basis to reconstruct their initial spatial location. Technological advances in ion imaging, particle detectors, and fast laser pulsing over the past decade have positioned atom probe tomography on par with other high resolution imaging techniques in terms of ease of specimen preparation and size of the volume analyzed. Therefore, statistical quantification of microstructural features by atom probe tomography is by now a reasonable expectation. While the promise of full chemical information and outstanding spatial resolution have given atom probe tomography the role of a transformative characterization tool, the absence of systematic quantification of chemical and spatial errors and uncertainties has often given atom probe tomography an image and role of a more qualitative than recognized quantitative tool. This is mostly caused by the use of a dated, simplistic algorithm to generate reconstructions of a 3D volume from an analyzed specimen, producing a long series of known artifacts in the reconstructed mode. To achieve a more accurate and uniform representation of the atom probe tomography analyzed microstructures, a synergistic collaboration between experimental and theoretical components is required. This proposal will bridge this gap.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910378
Entities
People
- Wolfgang Windl
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Ohio State University
- United States Air Force