ultra high vacuum surface science

from concept to characterizations

The EQUAL lab enables fundamental and applied research using state-of-the-art connected instruments

DFT
Predictions of new materials and phenomena through ab-initio density functional theory
PVD
thin film growth of topological insulators, magnetic materials, and various oxides using DC and RF magnetron sputtering
MBE
atomically-thin layers epitaxial synthesis of selenides and tellurides in separate and dedicated molecular beam epitaxy systems
NanoESCA
micro-ARPES, PEEM, XPS, & UPS: spin resolved, spatially resolved, variable temperature (15K-400K)
Other tools
Scanning diamond-NV micro-tesla magnetometry, Scanning Raman and PL (4-laser, 10K-300K)
SELENIDE MBE SYSTEM: 2D atomic layers and thin films of:
  • selenides of Bi, Mo, W, Nb, V, & Fe
  • binary and ternary compounds of above
  • alloys & heterostructures of above
  • UHV-connected to the telluride MBE, NanoESCA systems
TELLURIDE MBE SYSTEM: 2D atomic layers and thin films of:
  • tellurides of Bi, Sb, Mn, & Ni
  • binary and ternary compounds of above
  • alloys & heterostructures of above
  • UHV-connected to the selenide MBE, PVD,  and NanoESCA systems
PVD THIN FILM SYSTEM:
  • DC and RF magnetron sputtering
  • oxides, nitrides, selenides, tellurides
  • superconducting, magnetic, and topological materials
  • UHV-connected to the selenide MBE, telluride MBE, and NanoESCA systems
spin-resolved, cryogenic Photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM):
  • Hg vapor light source for near-Fermi level probing
  • Imaging with 40nm spatial and 25 meV spectral resolution
  • Real and reciprocal space imaging
  • spin-resolved and T-dependent (15K-400K)
spin-resolved, cryogenic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS):
  • Aluminum Kα X-ray source at 1486.7 eV
  • Chemical identification, oxidation state, bonding
  • Imaging with ~mciron-scale spatial and 25 meV spectral resolution
  • spin-resolved and T-dependent (15K-400K)
    spin-resolved, cryogenic momentum microscopy:
    • He I and II light sources for near-Fermi level probing
    • spin-resolved ARPES and micro-ARPES
    • Band structure, spin-texture, and more
    • spin-resolved and T-dependent (15K-400K)
      Qnami ProteusQ Scanning diamond NV magnetometer
      • microtestal imaging of magnetic materials
      • 40nm spatial resolution
      Renishaw Raman and Photolumunescence Spectroscopic Mapping:
      • 457 nm, 488 nm, 514 nm and 633 nm excitation lines
      • Stokes and anti-Stokes line from <15 cm-1 at 514 nm
      • 11K-300K capability
      • Si and InGaAs detectors to cover 0.7 – 2.7 eV spectra
        In-house cryogen supply
        • 250L liquid He4 plant
        • 9000 gallons liquid N2 tank