Reflection electron microscope imaging of an operating scanning tunneling microscope

M. Kuwabara, W. Lo, John Spence

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has been operated inside the Philips EM 400T transmission electron microscope (TEM). The possibility of combining STM with dark-field reflection electron microscopy (REM) has been confirmed. Preliminary results using the STM for REM in a TEM indicate that this combination has the potential to be a powerful new technique for studying surfaces and for studying the basic physics of STM. The STM holder has been successfully used to obtain REM images while tunneling from the same region. The incident electron beam and the STM instrument do not appear to influence the imaging modes of each other appreciably. The tunneling gap and surface modifications due to tip contact have also been observed by REM. The calibration of the deflection of the tube type STM scanner by electron microscope images is reported. The effects of hydrocarbon contamination on STM operation in air or conventional vacuum have been studied.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2745-2751
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Vacuum Science and Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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