The retro-cut process: precision reshaping of magnetic quadrupole lens profiles to improve field strength

In the evolution of magnetic quadrupole lens technology for nuclear microprobe systems, the pole profile has seen several improvements that have led to increases in the pole tip field for a given lens current. In a design dating from prior to 1994 the magnetic field strength was compromised by pole tip extensions that allowed significant flux leakage away from the central bore of the lens. There are many similar lenses in use world wide and they have a weaker focusing action compared to more modern designs which omit the pole tip extensions. We demonstrate that these pre-1994 lenses can have a new profile cut into the pole tip using a precision wire cutting machine that does not require the lens to be dismantled and does not compromise the purity of the lens field. We present the results of applying this process to lenses 1 and 4 in the antisymmetric quadruplet nuclear microprobe system at the University of Freiburg. The grid shadow method was used to show lens quality was not compromised by the process and we find that the lens field strength for a given current is increased by 15% when used to focus 2 MeV H+ ions in the antisymmetric quadruplet.