Ion
Pumps

Technical Superiority and Experience Matters

Our 0.2 and 2.0-liter models can be modified to almost any configuration and offers the ability to scale these designs as needed. Ion Pumps come with both conflat or weld flanges to meet your specific requirements, can be delivered under a vacuum atmosphere, and with springs/magnets upon request.

Ion
Pumps

Technical Superiority and Experience Matters

We produce 0.15, 0.25 and 2.0-liter models, which can be modified to almost any configuration and offers the ability to scale these designs as needed. Ion Pumps come with both conflate or weld flanges to meet your specific requirements, can be delivered under a vacuum atmosphere, and with springs/magnets upon request.

Altair
Ion Pumps
Engineered to Perfection

We have optical and high-voltage design expertise that delivers.

Ion pumps are high vacuum devices commonly used to maintain vacuum on a variety of vacuum tubes throughout their life; calling it a “pump” is a bit of a misnomer. Most people think of pumps as moving fluids from one location to another. The ion pump stores all the gas it collects and there is no outlet.

These devices use an electric field to accelerate and trap ions into a solid electrode usually made from Titanium. The embedded ions are effectively removed from the vacuum chamber, resulting in a net pumping action. Ion pumps are commonly used in ultra-high vacuum and can attain pressures less than x 10-11. Ion Pumps have no moving parts and use no oil and are commonly used on vacuum devices like linear accelerators, traveling wave tubes and x-ray tubes.

• Fully Tested & Hi-Potted
• Glazed or unglazed ceramic
• Pinched-off (standard packaging N2)
• Shipped under vacuum upon request

• Can be shipped baked-out too
• Shock and vibration testing
• Custom inlet flange mounts available
• Custom designs available

Size & Specifications

Pump Speed 0.15 L/s
Life @ 1×10-6 Torr 50,000 hrs
Max Start Pressure 1×10-2 Torr
Ultimate Pressure <1 x 10-11 Torr
Max Bakeout Temperature <600 ℃
Operating Voltage 5.0 kV
Shipping Weight 0.5 lb
Operating Temperature Range -40 ℃ to 100 ℃
Pump Speed 2.0 L/s
Life @ 1×10-6 Torr 50,000 hrs
Max Start Pressure 1×10-2 Torr
Ultimate Pressure <1 x 10-11 Torr
Max Bakeout Temperature <600 ℃
Typical Operating Voltage 6.0 kV
Shipping Weight 1 lb
Operating Temperature Range -40 ℃ to 100 ℃

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an Ion Pump work?

An ion pump uses high voltage and a magnetic field to trap gases in titanium disks.  Ion pumps will only function when there is already a good vacuum in the tube.  Residual gas molecules bounce around inside the tube and slowly work their way to the ion pump.  The gas interacts with a cloud of electrons inside the ion pump (held there by the magnetic field) forming ions.  The gas ions are then sputtered into the titanium disk (thanks to the high voltage field), trapping them indefinitely.  DC High voltage is supplied to the pump by an external power supply and a high voltage cable.  The magnetic field is created by a set of stationary magnets wrapped around the outside of the ion pump.

 

Why are Ion-Pumps used in a radiotherapy LINAC?

Ion pumps are a critical component in the design of a Radiotherapy LINAC.  Maintaining a high vacuum inside a LINAC is important to the performance and the longevity of the system.  Excessive gas inside will degrade emission from the electron gun, degrade beam magnitude and symmetry, and increase the potential for RF arcing which could damage the device.

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