Cryogenic-temperature atomic force microscope for scanning probe microscopy research

纳米电子和量子光电器件（如量子级联激光器）的外部性能取决于它们的内部工作-如电子，空穴和电势的空间分布所描述的。如果没有一个实验手段来探测这些内部分布，负责低于标准的设备性能的主要机制仍然是猜测最好的。该奖项为获得液氦温度传导原子力显微镜（AFM）提供了必要的支持，用于材料和量子器件表征的研究和教育。AFM系统将是一个平台，为各种新的扫描探针显微镜（SPM）测量在纳米尺度上，如扫描电压显微镜，扫描微分扩展电阻显微镜等，它可以在低温（低至1.5 K）和室温下操作，并提供超稳定的扫描和非常低的噪声水平。它支持三种操作模式：接触式模式，非接触式模式和调制模式，这使得它成为一个非常通用的工具，用于不同的研究目的。该系统是申请人在太赫兹量子级联激光器和纳米电子学研究项目中不可或缺的工具。它将为我们的研究提供必要的能力：1）太赫兹量子级联激光器的开发和表征; 2）量子半导体异质结构的内部动力学过程的研究; 3）纳米材料和光电器件的探索和表征。它将大大利用我们的研究工作，开发高性能的半导体元件，用于红外和太赫兹成像，生物和环境传感应用。此外，它将有助于将我们的研究扩展到新的领域，如纳米技术和纳米电子器件。该系统不仅适合最苛刻的研究应用，它是一个伟大的教学工具，为我们的研究生和其他HQP。该SPM系统的可用性将丰富我们的本科生和研究生的工程项目的研究和教育机会。这将在适当的时候有利于加拿大的经济和福利。

The external performance of nanoelectronic and quantum optoelectronic devices such as quantum cascade lasers is governed by their inner workings - as described by the spatial profiles of electrons, holes and potentials. Without an experimental means of probing these inner distributions, the chief mechanisms responsible for sub par device performance remain speculative at best. This award provides essential support for the acquisition of a liquid-Helium temperature conductive atomic force microscope (AFM) for research and education in material and quantum device characterization. The AFM system will be a platform for various novel scanning probe microscopy (SPM) measurements at nanometer scales, such as scanning voltage microscopy, scanning differential spreading resistance microscopy and etc. It can be operated at both cryogenic temperatures (as low as 1.5 K) and room temperature and provides ultra-stable scans and very low noise level. It supports three operation modes: contact mode, non-contact mode and modulation mode, which makes it a very versatile and enabling tool for different research purposes. The proposed system is an indispensable tool for the applicant's research projects on terahertz quantum cascade lasers and nanoelectronics. It will provide essential capabilities to our research on: 1) development and characterization of THz quantum cascade lasers; 2) investigation of internal dynamic processes of quantum semiconductor heterostructures; 3) exploration and characterization of nano-materials and optoelectronic devices. It will significantly leverage our research efforts in developing high-performance semiconductor components for infrared and THz imaging, bio- and environmental sensing application. In addition, it will help extend our research into new areas such as nanotechnology and nanoelectronic devices. Not only does the proposed system fit the most demanding research application, it is a great teaching tool for our graduate students and other HQP. The availability of this SPM system will enrich the research and education opportunities to our undergraduate and graduate students from the engineering programs. This will, in due course, benefit the economy and welfare of Canada.