Acquisition of Cathodoluminescence System for Scanning Electron Microscope

一个新的高分辨率阴极发光（CL）成像系统将支持下一代的研究研究在韦伯州立大学，主要是本科院校在北方犹他州。新的CL系统将与科学显微镜学院（COSMic）实验室现有的扫描电子显微镜（SEM）接口，并通过本科研究经验和基于课程的项目促进学生在仪器仪表，数据科学和图像处理方面的培训，重点是加强招聘和保留来自代表性不足的群体的学生进入物理科学。该系统将改善机构研究基础设施和能力，支持多个科学系的教师和学生之间以及与外部机构和政府机构的跨学科合作。来自SEM-CL系统的图像和研究结果将传播给广泛的不同受众。SEM-CL是一种关键的微观分析技术，可以对各种材料中的特征进行成像。将使用集成CL成像的项目包括：（1）矿物的地质年代学和地球化学分析，以检验具有北美西部继承的太古代成分的古元古代基底岩石的地壳演化模型，该岩石记录了地球历史上的一个关键时期，其标志是超大陆旋回的开始，沿着，具有科迪勒纳沉积盆地同造山地层中源-汇模式的特征，这将增加对弧后褶皱-冲断带折返模式和火山弧温度的了解;（2）断层/剪切带和脉系统中石英和方解石的显微结构分析将增加对导致水解弱化、反应软化、粒度减小和集中变形的流体通道和流体-岩石相互作用的理解，部分控制了整个地壳流变学;以及（3）薄膜材料的表征，其提供关键数据以理解杂质和缺陷的性质，所述杂质和缺陷可用于改进沉积/合成工艺并控制/钝化杂质，最终改善光致发光器件。材料的电子性能。该项目由美国国家科学院仪器和设施计划和地球科学部联合资助，以支持以下项目：如GEO EMBRACE DCL所述，提高各种机构类型的研究能力、容量和基础设施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A new high-resolution cathode-luminescence (CL) imaging system will support the next generation of research studies at Weber State University, a primarily undergraduate institution in northern Utah. The new CL system will interface with an existing scanning electron microscope (SEM) housed in the College of Science Microscopy (COSMic) lab and promote student training in instrumentation, data science, and image processing via undergraduate research experiences and course-based projects with a focus on enhanced recruitment and retention of students from under-represented groups into the physical sciences. The system will improve the institutional research infrastructure and capabilities, supporting interdisciplinary collaborations among faculty and students in multiple science departments and with outside institutions and government agencies. Images from the SEM-CL system and research results will be disseminated to broad, diverse audiences. SEM-CL is a key micro-analytical technique to image features within a variety of materials. Projects that will utilize integrated CL imaging include: (1) geochronologic and geochemical analysis of minerals to test models of crustal evolution of Paleoproterozoic basement rocks with inherited Archean components western North America, which record a key time in Earth history marked by onset of supercontinent cycles along with the characterization of source-to-sink patterns in synorogenic strata in Cordilleran sedimentary basins, which will increase understanding of retroarc fold-thrust belt exhumation patterns and volcanic arc tempos; (2) microstructural analysis of quartz and calcite from fault/shear zones and vein systems will increase understanding of fluid pathways and fluid-rock interaction that result in hydrolytic weakening, reaction softening, grain size reduction, and concentrated deformation, which partly control overall crustal rheology; and (3) characterization of thin-film materials providing key data to understand the nature of impurities and defects that can be used to refine deposition/synthesis processes and control/passivate impurities ultimately improving the opto-electronic performance of materials.This project is jointly funded by the EAR Instrumentation and Facilities Program and Division of Earth Sciences to support projects that increase research capabilities, capacity and infrastructure at a wide variety of institution types, as outlined in the GEO EMBRACE DCL.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.