Design and performance of the Cluster Ion Counter (CIC)

A dilute plasma is continuously maintained in the troposphere by ionizing particle radiation from galactic cosmic rays and radon decay. Small ions in the 1–2 nm size range play an important role in atmospheric processes such as ion-induced nucleation of aerosol particles. Consequently, there is a need for precise and robust instruments to measure small ions both for atmospheric observations and for laboratory experiments that simulate the atmosphere. Here, we describe the design and performance of the Cluster Ion Counter (CIC, Airel OÜ), which measures the number concentrations of positively and negatively charged ions and particles below 5 nm mobility diameter simultaneously, with low noise and fast time response. The CIC is primarily designed as a robust, low-maintenance instrument prioritizing ease of operation and broad applicability, including laboratory experiments; long-term unattended field measurements; and mobile, airborne, and battery-powered setups. The main application of the device is to study the temporal development of total cluster ion concentrations while also providing some information about the ion mobility distribution. The detection efficiency is above 80 % for ions and charged particles between 1.2 and 2.0 nm and above 90 % between 2.0 and 3.0 nm. The ion concentrations measured by the CIC agree well with reference instruments. The noise level (1 σ of background measurements) is typically between 20 and 30 ions cm⁻³ at 1 Hz sampling rate and an airflow rate of 7 L min⁻¹ per analyzer. The noise level improves when higher flow rates and longer sampling periods are used. The CIC responds rapidly, with 1 s time resolution, to pulses of ionization produced in the CLOUD chamber by a CERN particle beam.