How Can I Build a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope for Under $150?

[plxmny]

Hi Y'all,

I would like to demonstrate electron tunneling in my Modern Physics lab class.

Does anyone know of how to set such an experiment up?

We have a lot of equipment and $$$ available, so that's not a problem.

I don't want to ask the prof beforehand because he's kinda dumb.

 

[AlexHT]

I can't think of anything that would be all flashy since this is higly microscopic. You could do it with a zerner diode.

 

[berkeman]

You might consider doing "microwave tunneling" instead:

http://it.stlawu.edu/~koon/classes/221.222/222L/Tunnel.html

You can google microwave tunneling to get more hits and info.

As for electron tunneling, I think you'd need to have access to at least a basic (small) semiconductor fabrication lab in order to make something for a demo. Does your school have an experimental fab?

 

[plxmny]

Thank you very much for both of your replies.

I have seen the "photon tunneling on your kitchen table". Someone else is doing that.

Yes, we have access to a semiconductor fabrication lab! Just tell me what you have in mind and I can get it rolling!

 

[berkeman]

Quiz question -- what common electronic components use electron tunelling in their funtion? (and which would be the simplest to fab?)

 

[plxmny]

The average answer seems to be "tunneling diode" but it is difficult to see how one could demonstrate tunneling with such a device - other than to point at it and say "there's tunnelin' in that thar device!" ;)

 

[RandallB]

Quiz question -- what common electronic components use electron tunelling in their funtion? (and which would be the simplest to fab?)

A Mosfet can have electron tunelling but I think it was a bad thing that needed to be minimized.

 

[Creator]

Hi Y'all,

I would like to demonstrate electron tunneling in my Modern Physics lab class.

Does anyone know of how to set such an experiment up?

We have a lot of equipment and $$$ available, so that's not a problem.

.

Do you have an oscilloscope?
Build a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope.

Here's how to do it for 100 bucks...well, OK, $150. (Yes, you can create atomic images...)

http://www.geocities.com/spm_stm/Project.html

Creator

 

[berkeman]

A Mosfet can have electron tunelling but I think it was a bad thing that needed to be minimized.

...except in at least one very important application in electronics...

If you could tunnel charge onto, say, a floating gate of a MOSFET, what practical use could that be... ?

 

[plxmny]

Do you have an oscilloscope?
Build a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope.

Here's how to do it for 100 bucks...well, OK, $150. (Yes, you can create atomic images...)

http://www.geocities.com/spm_stm/Project.html

Creator

Thanks, Creator - I will definitely check that out! I appreciate your help!

(Amazing how many non-answers I get on these silly forums)