MRI STROBE CONSORTIUM: Development of a Hybrid Photon-Electron Microscopy System for Functional Imaging of Multi-Scale Materials

显微成像对科学技术的发现和创新至关重要，它加速了材料、生物、纳米和能源科学以及纳米电子、数据存储和医学的进步。然而，许多先进材料在结构和行为上是不均匀的和复杂的。因此，要了解这些材料的工作原理，或实施智能设计，以利用其丰富的技术潜力，是非常具有挑战性的。此外，由于需要广泛的样品制备，许多纳米级成像技术改变了样品，而每种成像方法只提供了材料的有限视角。为了应对这些挑战，频闪科技中心的研究人员正在开发一种新型混合显微镜，以实现一种新的成像模式：使用从太赫兹到软X射线区域的电磁光谱以及超快电子脉冲，对纳米结构和复杂材料进行实时成像。该项目还为一大批学生和博士后提供了一个独特的机会，让他们在成像科学方面进行尖端研究，并体验如何将先进的成像概念转化为工作显微镜。投产后，将有100多名教师、研究生、国家实验室和工业用户受益于新显微镜，研究领域涵盖物理、化学、材料科学、机械和航空航天工程。这一重大研究仪器(MRI)项目的目标是开发一种光子-电子混合功能显微镜系统，并实施一种新的成像方式：使用超快激发对纳米材料进行实时多模成像，结合从太赫兹到X射线的照明光束，以及电子的超快脉冲。这一独特的显微镜能够实现纳米结构和低密度材料的高空间和时间分辨率、无损的三维成像；埋藏界面的功能成像；以及普通纳米结构样品的多模式成像，因此需要使用共同的配准和样品处理来关联来自不同成像模式的信息。该显微镜的主要特点包括使用纳米光学和低能电子成像动态成像表面的电荷/自旋/能量传输和耦合的能力，以及使用纳米空间和飞秒时间分辨率的X射线和高能电子成像的厚样品。获得这些新能力可以更好地了解先进的纳米材料的电荷和热传输，以及了解结构如何影响材料中新出现的物理现象。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Microscopic imaging is critical for discovery and innovation in science and technology, accelerating advances in materials, biological, nano and energy sciences, as well as nanoelectronics, data storage and medicine. However, many advanced materials are non-uniform and complex in structure and behavior. As a result, it is very challenging to understand how these materials work, or to implement smart design in order to harness their rich technological potential. Moreover, many nanoscale imaging techniques alter samples due to the need for extensive sample preparation, and each imaging method provides only a limited view of the material. To address these challenges, researchers at the STROBE Science and Technology Center are developing a new hybrid microscope to implement a new imaging modality: real-time imaging of nanostructured and complex materials using ultrafast illumination beams spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from the terahertz to the soft X-ray regions, as well as ultrafast pulses of electrons. This project also provides a unique opportunity for a large group of students and postdocs to do cutting edge research in imaging science, as well as experience how to translate advanced imaging concepts into a working microscope. After commissioning, more than 100 faculty, graduate students, and national lab and industry users will benefit from the new microscope, in research areas spanning physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical and aerospace engineering.The goals of this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) project are to development a hybrid photon-electron functional microscope system and to implement a new imaging modality: real-time multimodal imaging of nanostructured materials using ultrafast excitation, combining illumination beams from the terahertz to X-ray, as well as ultrafast pulses of electrons. This unique microscope enables high spatial and temporal resolution, non-destructive, 3-dimensional imaging of nanostructured and low-density materials; functional imaging of buried interfaces; and multimodal imaging of common nanostructured samples, necessitating the use of common registration and sample manipulation to correlated information from different imaging modalities. Key features of the microscope include the ability to dynamically image charge/spin/energy transport and couplings at surfaces using nano-optical and low-energy electron imaging, as well as thick samples using X-ray and high-energy electron imaging, with nanometer spatial and femtosecond time resolution. Access to these new capabilities allow better understanding of charge and thermal transport in advance nanomaterials, as well as understanding how structure impacts new emergent physical phenomena in materials.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.