Achieving µeV tunneling resolution in an in-operando scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and magnetotransport system for quantum materials research

Published

July 6, 2020

Author(s)

Johannes Schwenk, Sungmin Kim, Julian Berwanger, Fereshte Ghahari Kermani, Daniel T. Walkup, Marlou R. Slot, Son T. Le, W. G. Cullen, Steven R. Blankenship, Sasa Vranjkovic, Hans Hug, Young Kuk, Franz Giessibl, Joseph A. Stroscio

Abstract

Research in new quantum materials require multi-mode measurements spanning length scales, correlations of atomic scale variables with macroscopic function, and with an ultimate energy resolution only obtainable at ultra-low temperatures, typically in a dilution refrigerator. In this article we describe a multi-mode instrument achieving µeV tunneling resolution with in- operando measurement capabilities of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and magnetotransport inside a dilution refrigerator operating at 10 mK. We describe the system in detail including a new scanning probe microscope module design, sample and tip transport systems, along with wiring, radio-frequency (RF) filtering, and electronics. Extensive benchmarking measurements were performed using superconductor-insulator- superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions, with Josephson tunneling at zero bias a noise metering detector. After extensive testing and optimization, we demonstrate we can achieve less than 8 µeV tunneling resolution, which is approximately 5-10 times better than previous instrument reports and comparable to the quantum and thermal limits set by the operating temperature at 10 mK.

Citation

Review of Scientific Instruments

Volume

91

Issue

7

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0005320

Local Download

Keywords

scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, tunneling spectroscopy, quantum transport

Citation

Schwenk, J. , Kim, S. , Berwanger, J. , Ghahari Kermani, F. , Walkup, D. , Slot, M. , Le, S. , Cullen, W. , Blankenship, S. , Vranjkovic, S. , Hug, H. , Kuk, Y. , Giessibl, F. and Stroscio, J. (2020), Achieving µeV tunneling resolution in an in-operando scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and magnetotransport system for quantum materials research, Review of Scientific Instruments, [online], https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0005320, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=929643 (Accessed October 15, 2025)