Researchers in Japan have combined femtosecond pump-probe laser techniques with a STM to study carrier dynamics with sub-nanometer spatial resolution and femtosecond temporal resolution.
Schematic overview of the combined pump-probe STM method that delivers fs time resolution together with nm spatial resolution. Figure courtesy of Shigekawa lab, Univ. of Tsukuba
Summary
Detailed measurements of fast carrier dynamics are key to understanding and optimizing next generation electronic and photonic devices based on nanomaterials. Prof. Hidemi Shigekawa and co-workers at the University of Tsukuba have used a novel method to study these dynamics with unprecedented detail, opening a pathway to deeper understanding of the electronic properties of nanostructured materials.
Our whitepaper explains how and why this method was implemented, and presents some early data that highlight the unique insights that can be obtained from this new temporal/spatial experimental regime.