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