High-Vacuum Magnetron Thin Film Deposition Systems A & B
High-vacuum thin-film deposition systems A and B are advanced tools utilized for the creation and processing of single-layer or multilayer thin films made from metals, insulators, or semiconductors. Both systems are equipped with seven magnetron sputtering guns, one ion milling gun, and a plasma oxidation source, and support both DC and RF power supplies. With their sophisticated automation features, such as computerized substrate rotation, fast shuttering, and precise control of sputtering gas pressure, deposition rate, and temperature, both systems are optimized for the efficient production of multilayers of nanoscale materials.
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High Vacuum Magnetic Thermal Annealing System
Our laboratory possesses a high-vacuum thermal annealing system that is designed for post-deposition thermal treatment of thin films as well as for magnetic pinning processes. This system is capable of achieving vacuum levels below 10-7 Torr and can operate at temperatures of up to 500 ºC, with field strengths reaching 5 kG. With its advanced temperature cycling capabilities, the system can rapidly thermally cycle a sample from 25 to 400 ºC and back in approximately 30 minutes.
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Quantum Design® Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS)
The Quantum Design® Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) features a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer and Electron Transport Measurement System, capable of measuring the magnetic and electron transport properties of condensed matter samples in a magnetic field range of -9 to 9 T and temperature range of 1.9 to 400 K. This system allows for the measurement of properties such as magnetization and its hysteresis loop, resistivity, Hall effect, and thermal power.
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MicroSense® Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM)
The MicroSense® EZ9 Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) is capable of generating fields of up to 26 kOe within a 5 mm sample space, or 22.5 kOe when used with the temperature chamber. This versatile VSM can measure magnetization and hysteresis loops of various sample types, including liquids, powders, solids, bulk materials, and thin films, and comes with sample holders designed to accommodate all of these types. The operating temperature range of the VSM is from 77K to 1050K.
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Magneto-Optical Kerr Microscope (MOKE)
Our laboratory is equipped with polar and longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopes that enable the measurement of perpendicular and in-plane magnetizations, respectively. These microscopes are capable of detecting magnetic configurations with high spatial resolution, up to sub-micrometer precision, in a temperature range of 280 to 320 ºC, and under both perpendicular and in-plane magnetic fields. Additionally, both microscopes are equipped with electronic noise measurement systems, making them suitable for studying the noise dynamics of magnetization structures.
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Triaxial Helmholtz Coils and Controlling System
This instrument generates a customizable magnetic field (Bx, By and Bz) within a 3-axis Helmholtz coil platform, which can be stationary or oscillating. It includes a 3-axis magnetic sensor, three power supplies, a computer, and user-friendly software. The system cancels the earth’s magnetic field and generates both DC and AC fields. It’s perfect for calibrating magnetic sensors and researching in fields such as spintronics, magnetotransport, biomedical devices, microscopy, and robotics.
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Additional Equipment at Central Facilities
Instrumentation for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation (IMNI @ Brown)
Nanofabrication Central Facility (NCF) at Brown University
NanoTools Facility (NTF) at Brown University
Electron Microscopy Facility (EMF) at Brown University
Joint Engineering & Physics Instrument Shop (JEPIS) at Brown University
Core Research Facilities and Instrumentation in Rhode Island