PHYS584 INTRODUCTION TO SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY (SPM)

Course Code:2300584
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week):3 (3.00 - 0.00)
ECTS Credit:8.0
Department:Physics
Language of Instruction:English
Level of Study:Graduate
Course Coordinator:Prof.Dr. ALPAN BEK
Offered Semester:Fall and Spring Semesters.

Course Objectives

The course aims to expose the students to the Scanning Probe Microscopy techniques, especially STM, AFM and SNOM and give them a hands-on training on AFM.


Course Content

Principles of tunneling phenomena & Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) Theory, scanning mechanisms: piezoelectric and coil, course approach, vibration isolation, data acquisition, feedback control: analog, digital, feed forward etc., Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM): theory, force detection methods in AFM, contact mode AFM, tapping mode AFM, non-contact mode operation of AFM & true atomic resolution, atomic manipulation, nanolithography, fast SPMs, SPM in liquids, operation in extreme environments, other SPM methods: MFM, SHPM, EFM, NSOM etc.


Course Learning Outcomes

The students who pass this course successfully will:

  • Be exposed to the concepts of SPM
  • Be able to understand, explain and utilize AFM, STM and SNOM
  • Have a hands-on experience on AFM 

Program Outcomes Matrix

Level of Contribution
#Program Outcomes0123
1They are competent in the fundamentals of Physics and in the subfield of their thesis work.
2They have necessary skills (literature search, experiment design, project design, etc.) for doing research with guidance of a more experienced researcher.
3They can communicate research results in a proper format (journal article, conference presentation, project report etc.)
4They can learn necessary skills and techniques (theoretical, experimental, computational etc.) on their own.
5They have necessary skills to work as team member in a research group.

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution