【分享】Post-Doc Position of SPM

http://www.punit.bham.ac.uk/vacancies/furtherParticulars.htm?refNo=43172&vacancy_class_id=2&vacancy_release=any&hours_id=FT&hours_id=PT&fixed_term=Y&fixed_term=N&keyword=&show_only_validated=Y&show_closed=N&show_active_only=Y&org_unit_code=DNPHYS&sortBy=job%5Ftitle&sortOrder=ASC&backTo=vacancyDisplay.htm

Post title Research Fellow
Reference number S43172
School/department School of Physics and Astronomy
Closing date for receipt of applications 6/7/2007
Hours Full time
Salary range £24,402 - £33,799
Maximum starting salary £24,402
Post duration 12 months
Number of vacancies available 1
Personnel contact(s) Ms. Jo Gerald
email: j.a.gerald@bham.ac.uk
tel.: 0121 415 9000
Informal enquiries to Prof. R E Palmer
email: r.e.palmer@bham.ac.uk
tel.: 0121 414 4653
Details


Project Details

The 'scanning tunnelling microscope' (STM) - a sharp needle which scans over a surface as it measures the electrical current flowing between the surface and the tip of the needle - is an example of real-world nanotechnology (it was invented in 1982), a tool which can image and manipulate individual atoms. The problem with STM is that it can't tell what kind of atoms it is seeing. Now, 100 years ago Einstein explained the photoelectric effect - some of the electrons in a material can jump out when you shine UV light or X-rays on the surface.

The energy spectrum of these electrons carries information about the composition of the material and its so-called 'electronic states'. If we could collect the photoelectrons and measure their energy with the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope, we could analyse the material on a very small scale and find out about the atoms. So this project is aiming to build a tiny electron analyser onto the tip (in fact, inside the tip itself) - we call it the Scanning Probe Electron AnalyseR, or SPEAR for short. It will scan over the surface while the light is shining, and so measure the photoelectron spectrum with a resolution down to about 10 nanometres. This is 1000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair and the size of about 30 atoms. To build the analyser we have to make a special kind of STM tip, a type of tip which hasn't been made before, but with the right people and the advanced equipment we have we believe we can do it. The tip is made of lots of layers like an onion, but it's the shape of a needle - that's the key idea. We think that the same kind of microfabricated tip can also be used as an electron source(rather than an analyser), to make possible another type of nanoscale spectroscopy, where we measure the energy lost by the emitted electrons when they bounce back from the surface - this is called Scanning Probe Energy Loss Spectroscopy, or SPELS. Finally, we want to demonstrate the power of both these new techniques by measuring the quantum properties of small clusters of atoms, which behave in a very different way from the materials we handle everyday. In the future, we think that these tools may be taken up by companies to solve practical problems in materials engineering.

Objectives

To develop a novel Scanning Probe Electron AnalyseR (SPEAR) by microfabrication of a multiple-layer tip structure which operates as a miniature retarding field analyser.
To integrate the analyser into a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope.
To couple visible and VUV light from a femtosecond laser system into the tip-surface junction of the STM.
To demonstrate local photoelectron emission spectroscopy measurements with the integrated SPEAR-photoemission system.
To fabricate a simpler co-axial tip structure which operates as a screened field electron emission source for Scanning Probe Energy Loss Spectrometer (SPELS).
To demonstrate the new techniques by exploring the valence-band states and plasmon excitations of atomic clusters on surfaces.
Role Purpose

To contribute to the achievement of the School’s research strategy by undertaking research activities within the EPSRC funded SPELS project. This is related to Scanning Probe Electron Analysis.

Main Responsibilities

To plan and develop research contributions to subject area using methodologies, critical evaluations, interpretations, analyses and other appropriate techniques, particularly in the area of SPELS and Scanning Probe Electron Analysis. This will require characterisation of size-selected clusters and SPELS measurements, as well as single porphyrin SPELS measurement.
To contribute to writing bids for research grants.
To suggest and contribute to the development of research techniques, models and methods in collaboration with colleagues and those from industry.
To disseminate research findings using appropriate and effective media such as publication, research seminars etc. Will attend and contribute to regular group meetings.
To provide guidance to other staff and students on own specialist area.
To contribute to the production of research reports and publications.
To prepare papers for Steering groups and other bodies.
To analyse and interpret the results of own research and generate ideas based on outcomes
Dimensions

Will work as a member of the Nanoscale Research Laboratory and with colleagues from other research groups.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required

First degree in Physics and PHD in surface physics area.
Possesses sufficient breadth and depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline and or research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes and to contribute new ideas to this new and growing field. Able to work independently and as part of a team.
Will possess excellent computing and presentation skills.
Knowledge of SPELS.
Experience of STM Imaging.
Experience of Spectroscopy and Conductance Maps
Job Features

Planning and Organising

Plan for the use of research resources as appropriate.
Contribute to the planning of research projects.
Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.
Decision Making

Have to be self-driven and able to meet deadlines.

Internal/External Relationships

Liaise with research staff and support staff on routine matters.
Make presentations at group meetings.