Quality Atomic Resolution Scanning Tunneling Microscope Imaging up to 27 T in Water-cooled Magnet

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first atomically resolved STM imaging in a water-cooled magnet up to 27 T, overcoming vibration challenges with a novel design, enabling high-field imaging beyond conventional superconducting magnets.

Contribution

The development of a robust, high-resolution STM system capable of operating in extremely high magnetic fields up to 27 T in a water-cooled magnet.

Findings

Achieved atomic resolution imaging at 27 T in water-cooled magnet

Designed a vibration-isolated, rigid STM scan head with TunaDrive motor

Paved the way for STM imaging in 45 T hybrid magnets

Abstract

We report the achievement of the first atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscope (STM) imaging in a water-cooled magnet (WM), where the extremely harsh vibrations and noises have been the major challenge. This homebuilt WM-STM features an ultra-rigid and compact scan head in which the coarse approach is driven by our new design of the TunaDrive piezoelectric motor. A three-level spring hanging system is exploited for vibration isolation. Room-temperature raw-data images of graphite with quality atomic resolution were obtained in very high magnetic fields up to 27 T in a 32 mm bore WM whose absolute maximum field is 27.5 T at the power rating of 10 MW. This record of 27 T has exceeded the maximum field strength of the conventional superconducting magnets. Besides, our WM-STM has also paved the way to the STM imaging in the 45 T, 32 mm bore hybrid magnet, which is the world's flagship magnet and can produces the highest steady magnetic field at present.