Scanning Probe Microscope in an Ultra-High Vacuum Cryogen-free Environment

Our new design concepts expand the use of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) into an ultra-high vacuum cryogen-free system. Typical cryogen-free systems are too noisy to effectively operate SPM, which require a low noise environment. We have created an internal vibration isolation unit that is able to connect to existing cryogen-free cryostats making their noise level low enough to operate SPMs. Our SPM is a modular design that can accommodate interchangeable probes, including STM, AFM, and MFM. The instrument is equipped with stages for sputtering, e-beam film deposition, and exfoliation for in-situ sample preparation and tip conditioning. The SPM is assembled at room temperature in ultra-high vacuum and a novel low-profile vertical transfer mechanism makes it possible to transfer the SPM, without breaking vacuum, to a variable temperature cryogen-free cryostat and magnet. The integration of all these capabilities into one instrument enables in-situ nano-scale characterization of low dimensional systems.