A cryogen-free low temperature scanning tunneling microscope capable of inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4952577· OSTI ID:22597974

Zhang, Shuai; Huang, Di ^[1]; Wu, Shiwei ^[1]

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1. State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 (China)

The design and performance of a cryogen-free low temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) housed in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) are reported. The cryogen-free design was done by directly integrating a Gifford-McMahon cycle cryocooler to a Besocke-type STM, and the vibration isolation was achieved by using a two-stage rubber bellow between the cryocooler and a UHV-STM interface with helium exchange gas cooling. A base temperature of 15 K at the STM was achieved, with a possibility to further decrease by using a cryocooler with higher cooling power and adding additional low temperature stage under the exchange gas interface. Atomically sharp STM images and high resolution dI/dV spectra on various samples were demonstrated. Furthermore, we reported the inelastic tunneling spectroscopy on a single carbon monoxide molecule adsorbed on Ag(110) surface with a cryogen-free STM for the first time. Being totally cryogen-free, the system not only saves the running cost significantly but also enables uninterrupted data acquisitions and variable temperature measurements with much ease. In addition, the system is capable of coupling light to the STM junction by a pair of lens inside the UHV chamber. We expect that these enhanced capabilities could further broaden our views to the atomic-scale world.

• OSTI ID: 22597974
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 87, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CARBON
CARBON MONOXIDE
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DATA ACQUISITION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
GAS COOLING
HELIUM
IMAGES
RUBBERS
SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY
SILVER
SILVER 110
SPECTRA
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0013-0065 K
TUNNEL EFFECT