Scanning electron microscope for high resolution imaging

多伦多大学密西索加分校(UTM)的研究人员需要使用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)来进行高倍率、高分辨率成像。该校区没有这样的设施，而且它的研究设施与多伦多校区(大约30公里远)的研究设施是独立的，因此使用那里的SEM进行我们的研究是不现实的。我们正在寻求购买一台桌面扫描电子显微镜(SEM)，操作方便，简单，成本低。拟议中的装置允许以纳米为单位进行高达2万倍的放大和测量，但也允许UTM的生物学家、古生物学家和考古学家进行大焦深成像。标准的SEM需要有技术人员支持的特殊安装。然而，拟议的桌面扫描电子显微镜需要非常短的学习曲线，不需要技术人员，非常易于使用和维护。因此，个别研究人员可以在需要时使用该仪器。扫描电子显微镜由连接的计算机上的软件控制，可以以各种分辨率拍摄图像。桌面扫描电子显微镜特别适合于不需要元素分析的化石、植物组织、昆虫、动物细胞和工业产品的检查。我们目前拥有在摄影、宏观和微观层面上研究这些材料的设施，但没有拟议的扫描电子显微镜提供的放大倍数。因此，建议的仪器填补了我们在图像分析范围内亟需的空白，非常适合多学科使用。此外，拟议的仪器将成为在高倍率下研究超微结构方面具有共同兴趣的不同学科之间的一座极好的研究桥梁。

Researchers at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus require a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for high magnification, high resolution imaging. The campus does not have one and its research facilities are independent from those at its Toronto campus (about 30 km distant) so it is not practical to use SEMs there for our research. We are seeking to purchase a table top scanning electron microscope (SEM) that is convenient, simple and low-cost to operate. The proposed unit permits up to 20,000 times magnification and measurements in nanometers, but also allows for large depth of focus imaging for biologists, paleontologists, and archaeologists at UTM. Standard SEMs require a special installation with technician support. However, the proposed table top SEM requires a very short learning curve and does not require a technician, is remarkably easy to use and maintain. Thus, individual researchers can use the instrument as the need arises. The SEM is controlled by software on a linked computer and images may be captured at a variety of resolutions. The tabletop SEM is particularly well suited for the examination of fossils, plant tissue, insects, animal cells, and industrial products for which elemental analysis is not required. We currently have facilities for the study of these materials at the photographic, macroscopic, and microscopic levels, but not at the magnification provided by the proposed SEM. Thus, the proposed instrument fills a much needed gap in our range of image analysis, and is ideally suited for multidisciplinary use. In addition, the proposed instrument will serve as an excellent research bridge between various disciplines with shared interests in studying ultrastructure at high magnification.