Alignment of Laser and Electron Beams in a Tunneling Microscope

Integrated Dynamic Electron Solutions, Inc. Engineering/Physics, 2014-15

Liaison(s): Bryan Reed ’92
Advisor(s): Peter Saeta, Ruye Wang
Students(s): Allison Mis (TL-S), Jackie Ong (TL-F), Tasha Arvanitis, Paul Jolly (S), Kirk Lau (S), Ashuka Xue (F), Jessica Iwamoto (F)

Dynamic transmission electron microscopes require precise alignment of laser and electron beams, but currently this process is extremely difficult. The Integrated Dynamic Electron Solutions (IDES) clinic team has developed an alignment system to make overlapping the beams simple and efficient. The team pursued two design alternatives: one that uses a phosphorescent material imaged through a borescope, and one that uses an image sensor to directly image the two beams.