Project description DEENESFRITPL New technology allows imaging quantum materials at high magnetic fields Advanced microscopy technologies such as the scanning tunneling microscope have revolutionised surface imaging at the atomic level. Individual atoms can be imaged at different temperatures and magnetic field values. Unlike temperature, the magnetic field is a vector field, meaning that its direction is equally important to its magnitude in the study of materials. The EU-funded VectorFieldImaging project will develop a cost-effective solution that will allow the direction of the magnetic field to be varied at the highest available magnetic fields. The proposed technology will modify the orientation of the entire microscope with respect to the solenoid. If successful, the technology will revolutionise material studies at the nanoscale, offering new insight about many quantum phenomena. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and of other similar devices was a revolution for research at atomic scale. Many companies offer microscopes which can be used to study materials at atomic scale as a function of temperature or magnetic field. However, unlike temperature, the magnetic field is a vector quantity. The direction of the magnetic field vector is as important as its magnitude when it comes to study properties of materials at atomic scale. The only solution available today to vary the vector of the magnetic field is to build a set of three separate solenoids, with which one can generate separately the three components of the magnetic field vector. However, this unavoidably implies a significant reduction of the magnitude of the largest vectorial fields that one can obtain, typically at most 1-2 T. The EU proposal VectorFieldImaging will overcome this challenge by developing new technology to modify the orientation of the entire microscope with respect to the solenoid. This will provide a significantly less-costly solution that will allow the direction of the magnetic field to be varied at the highest available magnetic fields, opening the door to the microscopic studies of many quantum phenomena. Specifically, the project will focus on a proof of concept by establishing technical feasibility, usability and commercialization of prototypes that allow turning a STM inside a high magnetic field solenoid tested in an operational environment by end users. If successful, this technology will make a real breakthrough in the area of quantum materials by allowing visualization by means of scanning probes at very high vectorial magnetic fields. Fields of science social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical transitionsrevolutionsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyscanning tunneling microscopy Programme(s) HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2022-POC1 - ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS1 Call for proposal ERC-2022-POC1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-AG-LS - HORIZON Lump Sum Grant Coordinator UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address Calle einstein 3 ciudad univ cantoblanco rectorado 28049 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
