An Ambient Air Scanning Tunneling Microscope to Study the Surface of Thin Metal Films
Date
2023-04-15
Authors
Wilson, Joshua C.
Hoffman, Brandon
Journal Title
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Houghton University
Abstract
An ambient-air scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is being built at Houghton University to study the crystal growth and transformation of thin metal films. The STM operates by maintaining a constant current between a piezo-electrically controlled scanning probe and the thin metal film sample while recording the height of the probe relative to the sample stage. This current is produced when electrons from the sample quantum tunnel through the ~10-10 m air gap to the probe, aided by a small bias voltage of ~-1 V applied to the sample; in order to achieve a tunneling gap of this size, the STM utilizes stepper motors to perform a rough approach of the probe to the sample. The STM is suspended on a dual-stage vibration isolation
system which utilizes springs with eddy current damping to protect the STM from background noise. The STM is controlled by a user interface via the Processing IDE software and a Teensy 4.1 microcontroller via the Arduino IDE, along with a control circuit. The data collected by the STM are used to create an intensity plot that will act as an atomic resolution “image” of the film surface. All hardware, electronics, and programs have been completely and successfully tested.
Description
Event
XLI Annual Rochester Symposium for Physics Students, University of Rochester (Rochester, NY), April 15, 2023
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Student Projects
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