Instruments - SHRIMP I

SHRIMP I is the original instrument built from around 1977 to 1981. Dr Steve Clement was recruited by Professor William Compston to produce a design for SHRIMP that enabled high mass resolution and sensitivity. The SHRIMP I design is based on the published work of Professor H. Matsuda and includes a quadrupole lens to minimize second order aberrations. Most of the components were manufactured in the RSES Mechanical and Electronics Workshops. SHRIMP I featured full computer control of data acquisition.

In terms of user operation, the key feature of SHRIMP I is the Schwarzchild viewing optical system that allows accurate placement of the primary ion beam spot on to the target. The stage was controlled by a simple joystick, and the focus could be controlled by a simple micrometer drive. Once the sample was in focus, the spot would burn in the same place on the viewing optics monitor. The ease of operation allows novice users to be operating the instrument independently within a few hours thereby allowing round-the-clock operation.

The SHRIMP I stage control was replaced by a computer-controlled version in 2006 to allow automated running from preselected points. This also saw the end of the highly reliable Apple Macintosh II computer with the incorporation of a PC running the LabVIEW software.

SHRIMP I as it appeared in the 1981 RSES Annual Report