The software has a number of new features, including a new routine for the detection of particles or clusters in the sample, which offers an increase in processing speed of up to 100 times
In response to user requests, Oxford Nanoscience has introduced a new version of the isoftware for materials characterisation using the 3DAP atom probe.
Other new features include enhancement to the particle statistics module and an increase in the maximum atomic mass displayed.
The vastly improved particle detection speed means that whole data sets from 3DAP experiments can now be processed without needing to preselect areas of interest.
The chemical identification of particles or clusters together with their position provide essential information in understanding at the atomic level, the processes which affect the macro properties of materials, such as hardening and toughness.
The 3DAP system evaporates, then counts, identifies and spatially locates individual atoms from a needle-shaped sample using a patented position detector and time-of-flight mass spectroscopy.
Data sets from each experiment are analysed using Posap.
The software displays both the mass spectra and a 3D visualisation of the analysed volume.
The maximum atomic mass that can be analysed by PoSAP has been increased from 200amu to 300amu giving the capability of analysing higher mass complex ions.
The particle statistics module now has the capability to display the total number ot atoms within the cluster and the central position of the cluster in cartesian co-ordinates.
New display options allow matrix atoms to be removed from the display, enabling single clusters or all clusters to be seen more clearly.
Another new feature is the introduction of a user-definable 'erosion distance' parameter.
By using this parameter, atoms that are closer than the selected distance to other atoms in the matrix material can be eliminated from the periphery of detected particles or clusters.
This gives better definition to the perimeter of the particles.
Posap software is used extensively on 3D atom probes throughout the world as well as to process results from Monte Carlo simulations of material structures.
