Feasibility Study and Design of a Proton Microprobe

A proton microprobe can be thought of as a scanning proton microscope. It is a precision tool. The microprobe described in this paper consists of a set of four high quality quadrupoles which focus a proton beam to a spot of 10μm diameter. This facility, when used in conjunction with existing proton induced x-ray equipment, will make possible the monitoring of particulate and fibrous matter as well as the measurenent of environmental camposition. It is intended to establish the instrument for use in conjunction with the University of Manitoba 20-50 MeV proton Cyclotron. The feasibility in tenns of design and cost of the system is assessed. Effects of aberrations are discussed. Uses of the microprobe in the fields of environmental toxicology, materials science and metallurgy are outlined.