Project description
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.
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 (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-POC1
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28049 MADRID
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.