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All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics
Published on: January 19, 2018
10.2K
A variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscope operated in a continuous flow cryostat
Jihao Wang1, Yubin Hou1, Tao Geng1
1Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics at Extreme Conditions, High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, People's Republic of China.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|October 3, 2019
Summary
We developed a compact continuous flow cryostat scanning tunneling microscope (STM) for ultrahigh vacuum and strong magnetic fields. This novel STM achieves atomic resolution imaging and superconducting gap analysis at low temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surface Science
Background:
- Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is crucial for surface science.
- Achieving high stability and atomic resolution at cryogenic temperatures, especially in extreme conditions, remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel continuous flow cryostat STM.
- To demonstrate its performance in terms of temperature range, stability, and imaging capabilities.
- To showcase its utility in studying superconductivity and its compatibility with extreme environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a continuous flow cryostat with a variable temperature insert.
- Engineered a compact STM head (9.2 mm outer diameter) using a zirconia structure.
- Employed helium exchange gas cooling to reach a base temperature of 4.9 K.
- Performed atomically resolved imaging of graphite and NbSe2.
- Acquired dI/dV spectra of NbSe2 near its critical temperature.
Main Results:
- Achieved a base temperature of 4.9 K at the STM head.
- Minimized STM head size to 9.2 mm outer diameter, enhancing rigidity and reducing vibrations.
- Demonstrated low drifting rates (1.96 pm/min X-Y, 3.05 pm/min Z) at 4.9 K.
- Obtained atomically resolved images of graphite and NbSe2 without external vibration isolation.
- Resolved dI/dV spectra of NbSe2, illustrating superconducting gap formation with temperature changes.
Conclusions:
- The developed compact STM offers high stability and atomic resolution at cryogenic temperatures.
- Its design is suitable for studying materials under extreme conditions, including ultrahigh vacuum and strong magnetic fields.
- This instrument is promising for investigating phenomena like superconductivity in challenging environments.
