Exploring new aspects and practical applications of capillary guiding of charged particle beams

Guiding of low intensity 1 keV singly charged nitrogen ions through a macroscopic tapered insulating capillary is studied experimentally. The transmitted beam intensities are measured as a function of time and different injection positions with respect to the capillary axis. Data are presented for a capillary aligned with the beam axis and when rotated by 1.5°. We found that pA beam intensities are sufficient to produce guiding and that improvements in the beam brightness by using tapered capillaries are minimal.