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This is EMSL's new helium ion microcsope.
It's similar to a scanning electron microscope,
but it uses a focus beam of helium ions, instead of electronics for
surface imaging and analysis
Helium ions can be focused into a smaller probe and provide a much
smaller interaction volume at the sample surface compared to electrons.
The helium ion microscope generates how your resolution images with better
contrast and improved depth of focus compared to an electron microscope.
It is one of the few the world. Uh... emerging technology and so uh...EMSL
looked at it as a new capability and could
uh... fill that role of biological and environmental analysis and so we were the
first one at a uh... national user facility, DOE.
Like a scanning electron microscope,
the helium ion microscope generates images that appear almost three dimensional.
The big advantage of using ions over electrons is the
depth of field that we gain with the
ion scope.
And so when you're looking at biological and geological samples the depth of field
in focus is all there verses an electron scope.
The helium ion microscope also simplifies the sample preparation
process
compared to an electron microscope.
When you're working with biological samples or geological samples or any
oxides that charge we don't have the necessary part coating on the
material we can use the electron
beam to flood out the the charge effect and use the ion to image. When you coat
things you might put an artifact, now we don't have to use that artifact
uh... coating to image uh... biological samples.
The helium ion microscope greatly expands EMSL's microscopy capabilities,
and will advance the lab's biological, geochemical,
biogeological and surface/interface studies.
This tool will allow us to do a couple of different types of imaging.
We are developing a technique called uh... low-KV STEM analysis. This will
be one of the first in the world using helium ions verses electrons.
um... The other capability as of the biological depth the field and then being
able to image
the material and not have to take several images over uh... over a scan area.
Development of this
instrument will allow us to do something that probably is not done any other place in
the world.
The helium ion microscope's resides in EMSL's Quiet Wing.
This unique facility was designed to reduce or eliminate the vibrations,
acoustics and electromagnetics that can interfere with ultra sensitive
scientific instruments.
To learn more about our helium ion microscope visit our website at
www.emsl.pnnl.gov.
While you're there, find out how you can become an EMSL user an access
EMSL's resources at no cost for published research.