Clip-on lens for scanning tunneling luminescence microscopy

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple, reversible clip-on lens for scanning tunneling microscopy that enhances electroluminescence collection efficiency, enabling quick conversion of existing microscopes into practical scanning luminescence microscopes.

Contribution

The authors develop and verify a reversible clip-on lens for STM that improves light collection, facilitating in-situ optical measurements without extensive modifications.

Findings

Achieved efficient light collection using the clip-on lens.

Demonstrated bias-dependent plasmon measurements on Au and Ag.

Produced spatial luminescence maps confirming lens functionality.

Abstract

We demonstrate and verify the in-situ addition of a collecting lens for electroluminescence experiments to an existing scanning tunneling microscope. We fabricate a simple clip-on lens that we reversibly attach at the sample plate via regular sample transfer tools to collimate the light emitted from a plasmonic tunneling junction to the viewport ordinarily used for optical access. The proximity of the lens to the tunneling junction allows us to exploit the full numerical aperture which helps us achieve good collection efficiencies, demonstrating the quick turnaround of converting an existing setup with optical access into a practical scanning luminescence microscope. We verify the function of the clip-on lens by measuring the bias dependent plasmon of Au, Ag, and spatial luminescence maps.