Research
Overview
Our research is focused in two areas: (i) gas-surface interactions and (ii) scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The gas-surface work is aimed at understanding the fundamental physics of surface vibrational and electronic excitations using focused beam impacts at above-thermal energies. These excitations play a key role in the development of new sensor technologies. Our variable temperature tunneling microscope system serves as a probe of nanoscale surface modifications created by beam impacts or with the microscope itself. Following the time evolution of these modifications allows us to probe the underlying mechanisms of atomic diffusion.
In-Progress Projects
- Trajectory Analysis in Hyperthermal Energy Alkali Ion Scattering from Ag(001)
- Current Production in Thin Film Schottky Diode Devices Under Low and Hyperthermal Energy Ion Impacts
- Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Tip-Induced Nanofeatures on (111) Surfaces