An Optical Surface Profiler for Characterization of Surface Features

薄膜、涂层和其他表面层在电子、光学、光子、传感器、航空航天、核和生物医学等众多应用中用于各种功能、装饰和保护目的。它们的表面特性和厚度对于开发性能大大提高的新型表面以满足表面科学技术快速发展的需要至关重要。所提出的光学表面分析器将能够在纳米尺度上有效地定量表征表面粗糙度、表面应力、薄膜厚度和磨损深度。由于萨斯喀彻温大学或该省其他地方没有类似的设备，因此该仪器的收购将对萨斯喀彻温大学现有的与表面科学和工程相关的研究项目产生重大影响。该研究领域处于材料科学的前沿，该仪器将帮助研究人员在开发表面性能大大改善的材料方面做出高度原创的贡献，用于各种工业和生物医学应用。拟议的设备还将为高素质的学员提供极好的机会，以获得先进表面科学和技术的实践经验和专业知识。

Thin films, coatings, and other surface layers are used for a variety of functional, decorative, and protective purpose in a myriad of applications including electronic, optical, photonic, sensor, aerospace, nuclear, and biomedical applications. Their surface characteristics and thickness are of paramount importance for the development of novel surfaces with much improved properties to meet the demand of rapid development of surface science and technology. The proposed Optical Surface Profiler will enable effective quantitative characterization of surface roughness, surface stress, thin film thickness, and wear depth in nanometer scale. Since there is no similar equipment existing in the University of Saskatchewan or elsewhere in the province, the acquisition of the instrument will have significant impact on the existing research programs related to surface science and engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. This research area is at the forefront of material science, and the instrument will help researchers make highly original contributions in the development of materials with much improved surface properties for various industrial and biomedical applications. The proposed equipment will also provide excellent opportunities for highly qualified trainees to gain practical experience and expertise in advanced surface science and technology.