Development of an Ultralow Temperature System with In Situ Thin Film Growth Capability

利用主要研究仪器计划的资金，佛罗里达州立大学（FSU）的研究人员将开发一种用于低温薄膜生长的设备，该设备将被纳入一个独特的稀释制冷系统，其基础温度为20 mK。 有了这个装置，PI将能够在微真空条件下生长一维纳米结构和薄膜，并对它们进行原位低温电学表征。 当与纳米级模板掩模结合使用时，低维样品的横截面积可以变化，通过绝缘体-超导体（或“金属”）转变对其进行调谐，并在不经历样品变化或热循环的情况下探测低至20 mK的相变。 该装置的核心是一个商业上可用的稀释冰箱，它将被定制，以适应必要的附件，为电影的增长。 这一系统将为研究有限尺寸下的量子相变、量子涨落和干涉效应提供前所未有的灵活性和可靠性。 从长远来看，原位薄膜生长和低温电学测量的独特组合将为许多研究机会打开大门，因为该设备将位于材料研究和技术中心MARTECH，该中心由佛罗里达州资助，位于FSU。 该装置将为FSU和周边机构，特别是佛罗里达AM大学的研究人员提供方便的超低温，以进行更常规的低温测量，如隧道和磁输运研究。

9871085XiongUsing funding from the Major Research Instrumentation program, researchers at Florida State University (FSU) will develop an apparatus for low temperature thin film growth that will be incorporated in a unique dilution refrigeration system with a base temperature of 20 mK. With this apparatus the PIs will be capable of growing one dimensional nanostructures and thin films under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and performing in situ low temperature electrical characterization on them. When used in conjunction with nano-scale stencil masks, the cross-sectional area of a low dimensional sample can be varied, tuning it through the insulator-superconductor (or "metal") transition and probing the phase transition down to 20 mK without undergoing sample change or thermal cycling. The centerpiece of the setup is a commercially available dilution refrigerator, which will be customized to accommodate the necessary accessories for the film growth. Such a system will facilitate studies of quantum phase transition, quantum fluctuations and interference effect under restricted dimensions with previously unattainable flexibility and reliability. %%%The unique combination of in situ thin film growth and low temperature electrical measurement will open the door for many research opportunities in the long run, as the apparatus will be sited at MARTECH, the Center for Materials Research and Technology, which is funded by the state of Florida and located at FSU. The setup will provide researchers at FSU and surrounding institutions, especially Florida A & M University, with convenient access to ultralow temperature for more routine low temperature measurements such as tunneling and magneto-transport studies.***