Extreme microscopy: LMA research featured in the SPECS blog

SPECS, a leading company in microscopy instrumentation and surface analysis, recently published a blog post about the research we conduct at the Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (LMA) in the area of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM). This publication provides an excellent platform to showcase our team’s detailed work and the depth of our scientific projects.

SPECS has summarised the range and power of our SPM facilities in two instalments, demonstrating how the excellent work of LMA staff, using SPECS instrumentation, translates into real discoveries.

“From Single Spins to High-Temperature Dynamics”

This first text introduces us fully to the technical capabilities of the LMA. It explains that, thanks to our scanning tunnelling microscopy platform, we are one of the few centres that can jump from quantum physics at 1 Kelvin to studying complex processes at 1300 Kelvin. In simple terms, we can investigate everything from the behaviour of a single spin to surface reactions at very high temperatures.

“From Quantum Spins to Controlled Nanostructures”

The second part of the report shows us how the results come to life. Here we detail how we are using this technology to design materials on demand. We discuss our advances in creating functional quantum systems (such as possible qubits based on graphene nanoribbons) and the unique ability to observe how nanostructures are created and organised in real time. It is proof that instrumental precision allows us to manipulate and understand matter like never before.

The SPM area is headed by Dr. David Serrate. If you would like to see details of the technology and discoveries made, read the articles in SPECS:

• • From Single Spins to High-Temperature Dynamics
  • From Quantum Spins to Controlled Nanostructures