little old news but really significant. really really a big breakthrough done by China academy of science.
The domestic first self-developed terahertz scanning tunneling microscope system has been successfully developed in Guangzhou
Recently, the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Guangzhou Park)-Guangdong Greater Bay Area Aerospace Information Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as the "Greater Bay Area Research Institute") successfully developed a terahertz scanning tunneling microscope system, which is superior to the atomic level. (Angstrom-level) spatial resolution and better than 500 femtosecond temporal resolution, becoming the first self-developed terahertz scanning tunneling microscope system in China.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) is a scanning probe microscopy tool for observing and locating single atoms, through the atomic-scale tip, at a height of less than one nanometer, to scan and image different samples with ultra-high precision. At low temperature, STM can precisely manipulate single molecules or atoms with the probe tip. It is not only an important micro-nano-scale measurement tool, but also a potential micro-nano processing tool. It can scan at the atomic level, detect and repair material surfaces, and guide microscopic chemical reactions. , control of atomic arrangement and other fields are widely used. However, conventional electrical modulation rates limit STM observations at higher temporal resolutions (generally on the order of microseconds). In 2013, Frank Hegmann, a professor at the University of Alberta in Canada , combined terahertz pulses and STM for the first time to achieve sub-picosecond time resolution and nanometer spatial resolution. Subsequently, German, American and other scientific research teams have carried out related technical research.
It took nearly 12 months for the terahertz research team of the Greater Bay Area Research Institute to break through the core key technologies such as terahertz and scanning tunnel tip coupling, terahertz pulse phase modulation, and successfully developed the first domestic terahertz scanning tunneling microscope (THz-STM). ). The microscope has Angstrom-level spatial resolution and sub-picosecond temporal resolution (improved by more than 1 million times), and can achieve precise detection (femtosecond-Angstrom level) with high temporal and spatial resolution at the same time. The ultrafast kinetic process of electrons provides a powerful technical means, which can be used in new quantum materials, micro-nano optoelectronics, biomedicine, ultrafast chemistry and other fields.
The research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Terahertz Basic Science Center, Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Guangzhou City, Huangpu Development Zone and other related projects.
Electron microscope technology can be used for metrology like the tools made by KLA-Tencor. It’s crucial to the semiconductor industry. The ultrafast kinetic process of electrons provides a powerful technical means, also can be used in new quantum materials, micro-nano optoelectronics, biomedicine, ultrafast chemistry and other fields.
