Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope
The VPSEM Laboratory houses a Leo-Zeiss 1450VPSE electron
microscope equipped with an EDAX Genesis 4000 XMS SYSTEM 60 energy-dispersive
spectrometer.
EDS has sapphire detector with ultrathin window, digital signal processing,
X-ray mapping,
digital imaging, and standardless quantification.
Specifications on the Leo-Zeiss SEM include:
| Resolution | 3.5nm @ 30kV (Tungsten) |
| Magnification | 9x to 900,000x |
| Acceleration Voltage< | 200V to 30kV |
| Probe Current | 1pA to 1uA Optibeam controlled |
| Variable Pressure | 1Pa to 400Pa |
| Detectors | VPSE, Everhardt Thornley Secondary Electron, BSE |
| Chamber | 300mm x 270mm x 224mm |
| 5 axis motorised stage | X=100mm, Y=125mm, Z=55mm, T=0 to 90 deg, R= 360 deg |
| Image Processing | Up to 3072x2208 sq pixels with noise reduction |
| System control | Leo32 with Windows 2000, with mouse and keyboard |
The laboratory is equipped with sample preparation facilities that include a Denton Vacuum DCP-1 Critical Point Dryer and a Desk II Plasma Coater with a Au/Pd target.
The VPSEM Laboratory is operated within the Department of Earth Sciences but is used by several Departments on campus. At present, on-campus and off-campus users are charged $25/hr for daytime (supervised) use. SMU graduate students are exempt from these fees if they have no external sources of research support. Commercial (for-profit) users are charged $100/hr. Rates are adjusted occasionally to reflect increasing costs.
Contact Us
Those interested in services provided by the VPSEM Laboratory should contact:
Roy Beavers
Email: rbeavers@smu.edu