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Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
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Waveform-sequencing for scanning tunneling microscopy based pump-probe spectroscopy and pulsed-ESR
1Department of Physics, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Methodsx
|June 15, 2019
Summary
We developed a simple upgrade for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) systems to enable pump-probe spectroscopy and pulsed electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments with high time resolution.
Area of Science:
- Surface science
- Spectroscopy
- Quantum computing
Background:
- Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a powerful tool for surface analysis.
- Integrating advanced spectroscopic techniques into STM systems is challenging.
- Pulsed electron spin resonance (ESR) requires precise timing control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a straightforward implementation of pump-probe methods into existing STM systems.
- To enable pulsed-ESR excitation for advanced STM-based spin-resonance experiments.
- To achieve high time resolution for pump-probe and pulsed-ESR measurements.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) with waveform-sequencing capabilities.
- Employing a simple mechanical relay switch for seamless integration with STM electronics.
- Implementing signal detection using a lock-in amplifier for enhanced sensitivity.
- Performing cross-correlation measurements of DC/DC and DC/RF pulses.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful technical implementation of the pump-probe upgrade.
- Achieved a time resolution of approximately 5 nanoseconds, limited by electronic speeds.
- Validated the versatility of the setup for various STM-based investigations.
- Showcased plug-and-play capability for pump-probe spectroscopy and pulsed-ESR.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a versatile and accessible upgrade for existing STM systems.
- This facilitates advanced pump-probe spectroscopy and pulsed-ESR experiments.
- The setup can be extended for coherent manipulation of qubits and diverse mapping schemes.
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